TY - JOUR T1 - Confronting the controversy: interleukin-6 and the COVID-19 cytokine storm syndrome JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.03006-2020 VL - 56 IS - 4 SP - 2003006 AU - Luke Y.C. Chen AU - Ryan L. Hoiland AU - Sophie Stukas AU - Cheryl L. Wellington AU - Mypinder S. Sekhon Y1 - 2020/10/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/4/2003006.abstract N2 - The concept of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cytokine storm syndrome (COVID-CSS) emerged early in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic to explain why some patients exposed to this virus become critically ill with acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, and death. A seminal study from Wuhan, China reported higher serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in patients requiring critical care compared to those with milder disease, and the authors postulated that “cytokine storm was associated with disease severity” [1].Hypercytokinaemic immune dysregulation in COVID-19 is known as cytokine storm syndrome. Interleukin-6 levels ≥80 pg·mL−1 predict an increased risk of respiratory failure and death, and immunomodulatory therapy is an area of urgent investigation. https://bit.ly/3jq3uJ4The authors thank Catherine Biggs for her critical review of the manuscript. ER -