Limited efficacy of tocilizumab in adult patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a retrospective cohort study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients

	Control group (n = 56)	TCZ group (n = 8)	P
Age, years, n	47.3 (17.5)	48.5 (19.7)	0.871
Sex, male, n	24 (42.9)	4 (50.0)	0.721
Cause of HLH
Rheumatic disease	9 (16.1)	3 (37.5)	0.164
Malignancy	17 (30.4)	1 (12.5)	0.424
Infection	13 (23.2)	2 (25.0)	1.000
Idiopathic	18 (32.1)	1 (12.5)	0.418
ICI	0 (0)	1 (12.5)	0.125
Symptom-to-treatment interval, days	41.0 (29.4)	33.9 (15.0)	0.730
Prior chemotherapy^a	1 (1.8)	1 (12.5)	0.236
Prior immunosuppressant^a	4 (7.1)	2 (25.0)	0.159
Glucocorticoid before baseline, n	37 (66.1)	8 (100)	0.093
Baseline Glucocorticoid dose, mg/day^b	112.9 (49.0)	113.3 (21.4)	0.396
Baseline clinical factors
Fever	54 (96.4)	8 (100.0)	1.000
Hepatosplenomegaly	50 (89.3)	8 (100.0)	1,000
CNS manifestation^c	15 (26.8)	3 (37.5)	0.676
Hepatitis	49 (87.5)	6 (75.0)	0.312
Shock	28 (50.0)	4 (50.0)	1.000
Azotemia	11 (19.6)	2 (25.0)	0.660
Coagulopathy	47 (83.9)	8 (100.0)	0.587
H-score	243.3 (36.8)	233.6 (20.1)	0.422
GFR, mL/min/1.73 m²	108 (77.3)	106.1 (75.5)	0.984
MELD score	12.5 (7.2)	12.2 (9.2)	0.509
ANC, /uL	2619.8 (5898.6)	4691.5 (5472.0)	0.345
Hemoglobin, g/dL	8.6 (2.1)	9.7 (3.0)	0.477
Platelet, x10³/μL	50.5 (34.4)	59.0 (40.7)	0.670
Ferritin, μg/L	27,827.6 (55,539.4)	20,873.7 (15,333.7)	0.283
Fibrinogen, mg/dL	161.4 (125.3)	155.1 (90.6)	0.879

Data are presented as the mean (SD) or n (%)
ANC, absolute neutrophil count; CNS, central nervous system; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; HLH, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; ICI, immune checkpoint inhibitor; MELD, Model For End-Stage Liver Disease; TCZ, tocilizumab
^aDefined as any prior history of chemotherapy or immunosuppressant prescription before the baseline treatment
^bPresented as prednisolone equivalent dose
^cAn altered level of consciousness

ISSN: 1750-1172