Anti-Rheumatic Drugs for the Fight Against the Novel Coronavirus Infection (SARSCoV-2): What is the Evidence?

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that causes the COVID-19 infection. Spike proteins are the most important proteins found on its capsule using the host's ACE2 receptors to invade respiratory cells. The natural course of the COVID-19 infection is variable, from asymptomatic to severe and potentially fatal. A small percentage of the severely infected patients will end up in an intensive care unit for ventilatory support. Elderly male patients with pre-existing medical conditions and smokers are at a disproportionate high risk to develop severe complications. Studies have shown that deaths occur due to a dysregulated immune system that overreacts, producing a plethora of cytokines, leading to the so-called "cytokine storm" phenomenon. In this direction, many drugs that

SUBMITTER: Pelechas E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7656133 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature