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. 2020 Sep 3;8(2):e001159. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001159

Table 2.

Characteristics of patients with cytokine release syndrome (CRS)

Subjects with CRS n=37 Cardiac dysfunction n=6 No cardiac dysfunction n=31 P value*
Time to onset of CRS, median (range), d 5 (1–12) 2.5 (1–5) 5.5 (1–12) 0.015
CRS max grade† 1, n (%) 14 (37.8) 0 14 (45.1) 0.022‡
2, n (%) 14 (37.8) 2 (33) 12 (38.7)
3, n (%) 6 (16.2) 2 (33) 4 (12.9)
4, n (%) 3 (8.1) 2 (33) 1 (3.2)
ASTCT CRS Max Grade§ 1, n (%) 16 (43.2) 0 16 (51.6) 0.0004†
2, n (%) 9 (24.3) 0 9 (29.0)
3, n (%) 9 (24.3) 4 (66.7) 5 (16.1)
4, n (%) 3 (8.1) 2 (33.3) 1 (3.2)
Duration of fever >38, median (range), d 5 (1–14) 5 (4–8) 5 (1–14) 0.67
Duration of fever >40, median (range), d 3 (1–6) 4 (3–6) 2.5 (1–6) 0.059
Duration of tachycardia¶, median (range), d 6 (1–30) 8 (6–9) 5 (1–30) 0.10
ICU transfer, n (%) 21 (56.8) 6 (100) 15 (48.4) 0.026
Received Tocilizumab, n (%) 7 (18.9) 4 (66) 3 (9.7) 0.006
Received steroids, n (%) 4 (10.8) 3 (50) 1 (3.2) 0.11
Required vasopressor support One agent 6 (16.2) 2 (33) 4 (12.9) 0.14**
>1 agent 3 (8.1) 1 (16.7) 2 (6.5)
Required milrinone, n (%) 1 (2.7) 1 (16.7) 0 0.16
Required mechanical ventilation, n (%) 4 (10.8) 3 (50) 1 (3.2) 0.009

Cardiac dysfunction is defined as a >10% absolute decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) compared with baseline or new-onset left ventricular systolic dysfunction >grade 2, LVEF <50%.

*The p value is comparing treatment course characteristics of those with and without cardiac dysfunction.

†CRS max grade as per Lee et al Blood 2014.

‡CRS grading compared mild CRS, grade 1/2 vs severe CRS grade 3/4.

§ASTCT CRS grading was retrospectively incorporated.

¶n=36.

**P value compared requiring any pressor support versus none in those with and without cardiac dysfunction.

ASTCT, American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; ICU, Intensive care unit.