Interferon therapy in patients with SARS, MERS, and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies.

ABSTRACT: Concern regarding coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks has stayed relevant to global health in the last decades. Emerging COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel SARS-CoV2, is now a pandemic, bringing a substantial burden to human health. Interferon (IFN), combined with other antivirals and various treatments, has been used to treat and prevent MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV2 infections. We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of IFN-based treatments and combinational therapy with antivirals, corticosteroids, traditional medicine, and other treatments. Major healthcare databases and grey literature were investigated. A three-stage screening was utilized, and included studies were checked against the protocol eligibility criteria. Risk of bias assessment and data extraction were performed, follow

SUBMITTER: Saleki K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8195694 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature