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**
Required vasopressor support	>1 agent	3 (8.1)	1 (16.7)	2 (6.5)	0.14**
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.