Abstract
COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading global threat that has been declared as a pandemic by the WHO. COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets or direct contact and infects the respiratory tract resulting in pneumonia in most of the cases and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in about 15 % of the cases. Mortality in COVID-19 patients has been linked to the presence of the so-called "cytokine storm" induced by the virus. Excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines leads to ARDS aggravation and widespread tissue damage resulting in multi-organ failure and death. Targeting cytokines during the management of COVID-19 patients could improve survival rates and reduce mortality.
Keywords:
ARDS; COVID-19; IL-6; cytokine; storm.
Copyright © 2020 Ragab, Salah Eldin, Taeimah, Khattab and Salem.
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
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Betacoronavirus / immunology
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COVID-19
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COVID-19 Drug Treatment
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Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
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Coronavirus Infections / immunology
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Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
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Cytokine Release Syndrome / drug therapy*
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Cytokine Release Syndrome / immunology
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Cytokine Release Syndrome / pathology*
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Cytokines / blood
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Humans
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Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
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Pandemics
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Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
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Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
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Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
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Receptors, Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
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Respiratory Distress Syndrome / drug therapy
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Respiratory Distress Syndrome / pathology
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Respiratory Distress Syndrome / prevention & control*
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SARS-CoV-2
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Cytokines
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IL6 protein, human
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IL6R protein, human
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Interleukin-6
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Receptors, Interleukin-6
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tocilizumab