Lopinavir/ritonavir as a third agent in the antiviral regimen for SARS-CoV-2 infection

J Chemother. 2021 May;33(3):193-197. doi: 10.1080/1120009X.2020.1775424. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Abstract

Corona Virus Disease (CoVID-19) is an emerging public health problem rapidly spread globally. New treatment options for patients with severe symptoms and ways of reducing transmission in the community are taken into consideration. A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Alexandroupolis (Greece) including 16 patients with CoVID-19. They were classified into two groups, A and B. Group A received lopinavir/ritonavir as a third agent in the antiviral regimen, while group B did not. Lymphocytes were more significantly increased in patients of group A. Ferritin serum levels were also decreased significantly in these patients. Number of days needed for a first negative result of Real Time- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was lower for Group A. The present study suggests that lopinavir/ritonavir may reduce the viral carriage in a shorter period of time compared with other antiviral regimens. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: CoVID-19; Lopinavir; SARS-COV-2; ritonavir.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lopinavir / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ritonavir / therapeutic use*
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • lopinavir-ritonavir drug combination
  • Lopinavir
  • Ritonavir