Doctors in southern Italy have been supplied with stocks of tocilizumab/Actemra to trial in Covid19 patients. It had shown good results in China - but there are so many poor quality trials that the Chinese are unable to get recruits for further work. The doctor in Naples said that they were encouraged: they gave it to 6 patients and 3 of them showed significant improvement.
Researchers at the University of Utrecht in Holland have identified an antibody. This is the first step to developing specific drugs or vaccines.
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No, taking Zinc will not prevent or treat COVID-19. However, Hydroxychloroquine is being used in some countries successfully to treat COVID-19 by opening the cell gateways and allowing zinc to enter the cells which prevents the virus from multiplying.
I don't think you can say "being used successfully" at this stage - numbers of patients are still quite small for any of the trials. In Naples, for example, they tried tocilizumab in 6 patients and 3 responded favourably. That is a justfication for doing more testing - but not something you can describe as "successful use".
This has probably already been posted, if so I apologize. But scary info for those that were started on pred & Actmera, then weaned off pred rapidly (one year) then stay on Actmera , weaning off that over the next 8-12 months. Now it seems that the Actmera does not act on the IL-6 as previously thought. Not sure how it is working on the Covid-19?
Thanks for this.... I hadnt seen this one. Got to admit I need the medical dictionary to decipher lots of theze papers! But the tone can tell you a lot. Interesting.
In Covid19 I think it is preventing the cytokine storm that leads to catastrophic inflammation and stops breathing. But it isn't certain it works for everyone there either.
It has been clear from the clinical trials that tcz only works completely for about half of patients given it. And there was already work that showed the disease could continue its effects even with apparent remission on Actemra. This paper is just looking to clarify WHY.
The trouble is, too many doctors think it is the perfect answer, they want it to be a cure - but as I have said from the outset, it is probably a VERY expensive steroid sparer, albeit pretty effective.
I am thinking back to when Roche first made contact all those years ago to supply 10 people with GCA, so they could find out what patients went through - then trials - and we got one in the Freeman hospital in the North East (there were only 14 hospitals involved and they were not al in the UK). Two of our new patients they had to be new - pred and TCZ - within 15 months remission and both still in remission.
how do you think it works..would prednisone or methtrexate work also?.. err I have just started on methotrexate as well as prednisone. It seems to be helping but I'm only on 7.5mg per week and I was told to start at 15mg. Docotrs here have NO teleconferencingin Sydney. I asked if I could just get a scipt for prednsione but had to have an appointment..and two people walked in to make emergeny appointments while i was in the waiting room... one taken immediatly before me.
Also I am scheudle for a cebral angiogram on Wed (alread cancelled once last Dec), and I really am scared though I havent heard anythig about the hospital..it s all around though by 5 to 20 miles or so.
TCZ in Covid19 you mean? I imagine it will be preventing the massive storm of cytokines secreted in developing the inflammatory response to the virus which is what makes the respiratory system unable to function. It doesn't happen in everyone but it is what creates the breathing problems that require a ventilator. I suspect it doesn't work for everyone - there may be more cytokines involved and TCZ is specific to IL-6.
And no, there is no evidence that steroids or methotrexate help, in fact France is suggesting that OTC steroids and antiinflammatories may worsen Covid19. Which is the first time it has been suggested we are at a greater risk. So it is up to us to make sure we reduce our risk by avoiding all contacts we can, At least with the lockdown here I can go shopping and not have to rub shoulders with others!
Unsettling, isn't it? Thought at lower dose with adrenals at least partially active my risk was not higher than normal - just aged. Now, pred is not only not helpful, but contraindicated. Staying home!
Indeed it is not. Just explaining voluntary separation to those who don't get it - can you believe some are still, with all of this information, taking it personally??
thanks, I thought we were more at riskas our immune system is moresuppresses so unable to fight it..and so it will maybe grow wild faster, then I thought..maybe pred and methotrexate may also lower any cytokine storm via suppressing our immune system.. looks like its only TCZ(if it helps)... do you still go out shopping? I was wondering if I should start online shpping but that too could be infected?
Sheffield. Ocado closed itself down and the tesco had no dates. I am OK for stuff but thought if I ran out of the free food I had heard ocado were OK. I will try my local wholefood shop that will usually deliver an organic box weekly.
I got mine from Asda; not great and a lot of substitutions which weren't really that. Going to try Tesco this week and getting fruit and veg from local organic supplier - this is no time to be thinking about the pennies which has always deterred me in the past from having the organic boxes.
The virus can live for 24 hrs on paper or card or 2/3 days on plastic or stainless steel. If you can separate out loose vegetables and fruit from your delivery, using gloves and leave them in an outside or porch area and spray the rest with a bleach based spray it should be okay. You would have the same risk if you bought them in a store anyway.
My question is that if you are using strong immune suppressants. I am taking Actemra and Mycophenelate ( only normally given to prevent heart patients rejecting organs) should you self isolate? I am generally in reasonable health. I have GCA
I am only taking the dog into open territory and if I have to shop anymore I will be careful and go at quiet times... I. E. 2am I. My 24hr shop. . Other than that I am isolating.
58yrs, diabetes, pmr, pred 7.5mg, mycophenolate 2g a day and other drugs. I will not be seeing friends or family until I feel its worth the risk. Its up to up to decide what your acceptable risk is... To yourself and others.
I agree. With the ability to electronically connect, it is totally reasonable for most to isolate for weeks to flatten the curve. It is unfortunate that it takes so few who are cavalier, or worse, to affect so many who are complying.
"with all due respect" generally means "with no respect" - thank you.
YOUR doctor may not have seen it as a cure - but some do.
It may not be as expensive as other biologics - it still has to be paid for and heathcare systems are creaking everywhere. You might tell me that they aren't in the USA, I don't know, but that is partly due to the fact that how ever many millions don't have ANY healthcare cover, never mind the sort of cover that will approve the use of biologics. And after the Covid19 episode, there will be even less funding.
And kindly don't misquote me or quote out of context.
Once you get down to one injection every 4 weeks it is not any more expensive than many medications - about £2,500 per year. Also Rheumatoid arthritis patients can have it as long as they want. Why?
It is weird. I remember having this discussion when yours was withdrawn and I couldn't find a reason in the guidelines etc. I suppose its been used longer in RA and its only year 3 for gca. If the success level gets better as time goes on they make extend the brief. The second year study was OK in some parts but still not the results they wanted I think. It may get easier to have it prescribed IF the cost goes down in year 1. But if the current virus is successfully treated they will no doubt, as I was reminded, repatent it so the overall cost is kept high. Pred costs pennies compared to actemraeven if you spend a good few years on it.
As with all scientific knowledge, the knowledge of drugs success or otherwise changes. It also is built in the social context. If there's cash to be made.....
Don't worry it will be.
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