What are the possible risks of being in the study?

Apart from the known side effects of these treatments (which may include tummy upset and blood test abnormalities), there is the unlikely possibility of a severe reaction to a study drug. Although Tocilizumab has been very rarely associated with liver damage in prolonged use this is not expected to be a problem with the short-term administration in this study. The potential side effects of plasma transfusions include allergic reactions (rash, fever, chills) and increased difficulty breathing and are easily treated. The plasma will undergo all the usual testing for the presence of other infections, but a very small risk of infection transmission does remain. Please ask your hospital doctor if you would like more information. Once you have been included in the study, you and your doctors will know which treatment the computer has allocated for you. Your doctors will be aware of whether there are any particular side effects that they should look out for. Women who are pregnant may be included, however, the effect of some of the treatments on unborn babies is uncertain - although all the treatments have previously been used in pregnancy for other medical conditions without safety concerns being raised. If you do receive treatment and are not already pregnant, as a precaution, we advise that you should not get pregnant within 3 months of the completion of the trial treatment(s).