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Statins as an adjunctive therapy for COVID-19: the biological and clinical plausibility

Tarek Kashour1, Rabih Halwani2, Yaseen M Arabi3,4

  • 1Department of Cardiac Sciences, King Fahad Cardiac Center, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology
|January 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Statins may offer cardiovascular protection for COVID-19 patients due to their anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects. Further research through randomized controlled trials is recommended to confirm the therapeutic potential of statins in treating coronavirus disease 2019.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, leading to significant mortality and high incidence of cardiovascular complications.
  • Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions face elevated risks from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Current therapeutic options for COVID-19 are limited, prompting drug repurposing strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pleotropic effects of statins and their relevance to COVID-19.
  • To explore the potential cardiovascular benefits of statins in COVID-19 patients.
  • To provide a rationale for clinical trials investigating statins for COVID-19 treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of existing literature on statin mechanisms and effects.
  • Analysis of pre-clinical and clinical data concerning statins in infections and acute lung injury.
  • Evaluation of data relevant to cardiovascular complications in COVID-19.

Main Results:

  • Statins possess pleotropic effects including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antithrombotic, and antimicrobial properties.
  • These properties suggest potential benefits in mitigating cardiovascular complications associated with COVID-19.
  • Existing data support further investigation into statins' role in managing viral infections and associated lung injury.

Conclusions:

  • Statins' multifaceted properties present a compelling case for their therapeutic potential in COVID-19, particularly for cardiovascular protection.
  • Further investigation through well-designed randomized controlled trials is warranted to establish the efficacy and safety of statins in COVID-19 management.
  • Drug repurposing of statins could offer a rapid and accessible treatment avenue for COVID-19 patients.

Keywords:
ARDSCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Statinsacute lung injuryanti-inflammatoryantiviralimmunomodulatory

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