Response to

We thank Dr Buckley1 for the interest in our report on interleukin-6 receptor blockade with subcutaneous tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia receiving supplemental oxygen without mechanical ventilation and hyperinflammation.2 We acknowledge that the recently published results from the RECOVERY trial showed reduced mortality in patients treated with dexamethasone (6 mg daily up to 10 days) in addition to usual care, with the benefits being greater in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation (41% vs 29%), while considerably reduced in severe patients on supplemental oxygen without mechanical ventilation (18% vs 14%).3 We also read with interest the results of the CHIC study showing that high-dose intravenous tocilizumab (8 mg/kg body weight, single infusion) may increase the benefits of high-dose methylprednisolone (250 mg on day 1, followed by 80 mg on days 2–5) in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and cytokine storm syndrome requiring supplemental oxygen, mostly through nasal cannulas or mask.4 It is therefore of utmost …