JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

Valproic acid could help in the fight against COVID-19: A case-control study

  • 0Endocrinology and Nutrition department, Alicante General University Hospital - Alicante Institute of Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain; Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain.
Neurologia +

|

September 4, 2024

|

September 4, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Valproic acid (VPA) use, particularly within the therapeutic range, was associated with a significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence. This suggests a potential antiviral effect of VPA, warranting further research into its role in managing COVID-19.

Area Of Science

  • Virology
  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background

  • Early evidence suggests Valproic acid (VPA) may possess antiviral properties.
  • Investigating the impact of VPA on SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To compare the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Valproic acid (VPA) users versus the general population.
  • To evaluate the potential protective effect of VPA against COVID-19.

Main Methods

  • A case-control study nested within a cohort was conducted from March 1 to December 17, 2020.
  • Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infected patients on VPA were identified and compared to an unexposed general population.
  • VPA regimen (all-time or not-all-time) and therapeutic range (ATR) levels were assessed.

Main Results

  • The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was lower in VPA users compared to the general population (1.736%-1.910% vs. 2.201%).
  • Patients with VPA levels within the therapeutic range (ATR) showed a >75% reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk (OR 0.233-0.218).
  • Hospital admission incidence for COVID-19 was also lower in VPA users (OR 0.543).

Conclusions

  • Valproic acid (VPA) use within the therapeutic range is associated with a significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence.
  • A trend towards reduced COVID-19 admission risk was observed in patients on VPA therapy.
  • These findings highlight the need for further investigation into VPA's antiviral potential for COVID-19 treatment and prevention.

Keywords:

Related Concept Videos

Conjugated Proteins 02:50

18.2K

Simple proteins and protein complexes contain only amino acids. In contrast, many other proteins, called conjugated proteins, covalently bond with non-protein moieties.
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists 01:23

160

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...

Controls in Experiments 01:13

6.9K

When conducting an experiment, it is crucial to have control to reduce bias and accurately measure the dependent variables. It also marks the results more reliable. Controls are elements in an experiment that have the same characteristics as the treatment groups but are not affected by the independent variable. By sorting these data into control and experimental conditions, the relationship between the dependent and independent variables can be drawn. A randomized experiment always includes a...