COVIDcast - Tocilizumab

COVIDcast - Tocilizumab

Author: FOAMcast October 25, 2020 Duration: 20:10

We interrupt our normal FOAMcast episodes to bring you updates from COVID-19. *Our understanding of COVID-19 is rapidly developing and this may be out of date in days/weeks. So, check back for updates/fact check what you hear*

Monoclonal antibodies have received significant attention over the past month and we previously podcasted on antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2. In this episode, we review several recent studies on a different "mab", tocilizumab,  which targets inflammation mediated by interleukin-6 that is overly ramped up. 

We review:

Stone et al  ( RCT)

Hermine et al (RCT)

Salvarani et al. (RCT)

STOP-COVID (observational)

Show notes (references/graphics): FOAMcast.org

Thanks for listening,
Lauren Westafer and Jeremy Faust


Tune into FOAMcast-An Emergency Medicine Podcast for a deep and practical exploration of medical topics, grounded in the vast world of Free Open Access Medical education. This isn't just about summarizing the latest online discussions; it's about critically connecting innovative FOAM resources-from blogs and freely streamed conferences to PubMed articles-with established, core medical knowledge. Each episode serves as a guided tour through complex clinical concepts, where the hosts provide essential review and point you toward key references for further study. The conversation is built on the belief that learning is a collaborative process, transforming isolated digital information into durable understanding for practice. You'll hear thoughtful analysis that challenges assumptions and synthesizes ideas, all aimed at enhancing patient care. This podcast exists because navigating modern medical education works best as a shared endeavor, making the most of the collective intelligence found within the FOAM community. Join the hosts as they break down the why and how behind emergency medicine, creating a space where curiosity meets clinical application.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

FOAMcast -  An Emergency Medicine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Panscan after Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:03
In this quick literature update, we review a recent paper by Branch et al on early 'panscan' (head to pelvis CT scan ) in patients with return of spontaneous circulation after out of hospital cardiac arrest. Show notes/…
Covidcast: Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:10
In this episode we review what we know about vaccine induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), which has been associated with the COVID-19 viral vector vaccines by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Show notes/referenc…
Cerebral Vein Thrombosis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:03
In this podcast, we review Cerebral Vein Thrombosis (CVT) including clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. Show notes: FOAMcast.org Thanks for listening! Lauren Westafer and Jeremy Faust
COVIDcast: Ivermectin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:31
In this episode, we discuss ivermectin as a potential therapeutic for COVID-19 and review available randomized trials evaluating this drug. Chaccour et al E-Clinical Medicine Lopez-Medina et al. JAMA Schwartz et al (not…
COVIDcast - Pregnancy & Vaccine Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:10
In this episode, we review new registry data from the ACIP meeting on pregnant people who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and discuss, in general, what we know about the COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. Show notes: FOAM…
COVIDcast - Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:32
In this episode, we review the FDA briefing document on the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) viral vector COVID-19 vaccine. Show notes: FOAMcast.org Thanks for listening! Lauren Westafer & Jeremy Faust
Tranexamic Acid in Epistaxis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:21
We have previously covered epistaxis on FOAMcast , including the use of tranexamic acid (TXA). Now, we cover a new, large RCT, the NoPac trial by Reuben et al, on TXA for epistaxis. Show notes: FOAMcast.org Thanks for li…
COVIDcast - Colchicine in COVID-19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:25
There's been a lot of excitement over various drugs for COVID-19, including anti-inflammatory drugs. Colchicine, a medication long used for gout, fits that bill. In this podcast, we review 3 trials of colchicine includin…
COVIDcast - Tocilizumab [RECOVERY trial] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:31
Early studies of tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds interleukin-6 , were disappointing. However, the REMAP-CAP trial recently reported a benefit to tocilizumab in non-critically ill hospitalized patients with…
COVID Vaccine and Variants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:17
As vaccinations role out, the news of SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations to the spike protein have dominated news cycles. One unanswered question has been - do the current vaccines protect against these variants? We tack…