Popis: |
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome related to Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) may cause severe illness in 20% of patients. This may be in part due to an uncontrolled immune-response to SARS-CoV-2 infection triggering a systemic hyperinflammatory response, the so-called “cytokine storm”. The reduction of this inflammatory immune-response could be considered as a potential therapeutic target against severe COVID-19. The relationship between inflammation and clot activation must also be considered. Furthermore, we must keep in mind that currently, no specific antiviral treatment is available for SARS-CoV-2. While moderate-severe forms need in-hospital surveillance plus antivirals and/or hydroxychloroquine; in severe and life-threating subsets a high intensity anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapy could be a therapeutic option. However, right data on the effectiveness of different immunomodulating drugs are scarce. Herein, we discuss the pathogenesis and the possible role played by drugs such as: antimalarials, anti-IL6, anti-IL-1, calcineurin and JAK inhibitors, corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, heparins, angiotensin-converting enzyme agonists and statins in severe COVID-19. Higlights • Severe COVID-19 forms may be related to a hyperinflammatory syndrome. • Severe COVID-19 is associated with clot pathway hyperactivity and sometimes, with thromboses. • Immunosuppression may be a complementary therapy in COVID-19 patients. • Antimalarials, heparin, cytokine blockers, JAK-inhibitors, IVIG could be useful for treating severe COVID-19 patients. • In SARS-CoV-2 infections the effectiveness of the hyperimmune plasma remains uncertain. |