IL6 and COVID-19: In addition, disease severity has been found to be positively associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio.5,6 Patients with COVID-19 may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from excessive inflammation and lymphocytopenia.7 These changes lead to cell death and tissue destruction, resulting in airway collapse, multiple organ failure, and death in 67–85% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients.4,8