COVID-19: Therapeutics and interventions currently under consideration.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Virology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• The emergence of COVID-19 spurred extensive research into therapeutic strategies.
• The virus presents complex pathophysiology, affecting pulmonary and extrapulmonary systems, and immune responses like cytokine storm, complicating management.
• Multiple potential targets for antiviral therapy and vaccines exist due to COVID-19's complex virology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review prominent and promising medications and therapeutic approaches for COVID-19.
• To discuss non-medication interventions and repurposed antivirals.
• To provide clinicians with potential treatment options for COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on COVID-19 therapeutics.
• Discussion of non-medication interventions such as hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
• Analysis of repurposed antiviral medications and their efficacy.
• Consideration of drug interactions and timing of medication for optimal benefit, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and dexamethasone.

Main Results:

• Several antivirals approved for other conditions were studied for repurposing against COVID-19 with varying results.
• Non-medication interventions like HBOT and ECMO showed varying degrees of clinical success.
• The timing of medication administration, such as dexamethasone, significantly impacted clinical benefit.
• Concerns regarding potential risks of ACE inhibitors and ARB use were noted.

Conclusions:

• No COVID-19 therapeutics are FDA-approved beyond emergency use authorization (EUA) to date.
• The review presents a selection of interventions, not an exhaustive list of all compounds trialed.
• The knowledge base for treating COVID-19 is continuously evolving, necessitating timely information dissemination for clinical guidance.