Pros and cons of corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 patients

Paula Mattos-Silva; Nathane Santanna Felix; Pedro Leme Silva; Chiara Robba; Denise Battaglini; Paolo Pelosi; Patricia Rieken Macedo Rocco; Fernanda Ferreira Cruz

doi:10.1016/j.resp.2020.103492

Pros and cons of corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 patients

Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2020 Sep:280:103492. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2020.103492. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Authors

Paula Mattos-Silva¹, Nathane Santanna Felix², Pedro Leme Silva³, Chiara Robba⁴, Denise Battaglini⁵, Paolo Pelosi⁶, Patricia Rieken Macedo Rocco⁷, Fernanda Ferreira Cruz⁸

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: pmattoss@biof.ufrj.br.
² Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: nathanefelix@gmail.com.
³ Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: pedroleme@biof.ufrj.br.
⁴ Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS for Oncology and Neuroscience, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: kiarobba@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS for Oncology and Neuroscience, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: battaglini.denise@gmail.com.
⁶ Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS for Oncology and Neuroscience, Genoa, Italy; Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: ppelosi@hotmail.com.
⁷ Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: prmrocco@biof.ufrj.br.
⁸ Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: ffcruz@biof.ufrj.br.

Abstract

In December 2019, an outbreak of severe pneumonia was reported in Wuhan, China. Later described as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), this infection caused by a virus from the Coronaviridae family (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally. Effective therapies for this new disease are urgently needed. In this short communication, we will evaluate the use of corticosteroids as an adjunctive pharmacological therapy in the management of COVID-19 and describe its pros and cons in light of the latest available evidence.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dexamethasone; Inflammation; SARS-COV-2; Steroids.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage*
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
Betacoronavirus / physiology
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / blood
Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology
Cytokines / antagonists & inhibitors*
Cytokines / blood
Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
Dexamethasone / adverse effects
Drug Administration Schedule
Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage*
Glucocorticoids / adverse effects
Humans
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / blood
Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Cytokines
Glucocorticoids
Dexamethasone