A Review on Corticosteroids: A Controversial Role in COVID-19

Sreeja Nyayakar; Nithyanandan S; Archana L; Divya Gopinath

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the known causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which emerged first in Wuhan Province of China has caused catastrophic health, social, and economic crisis worldwide. Several drug therapies were used with corticosteroids being one of them, believing to exert an effect in controlling the ARDS. Use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 is common in clinical practice, but the efficacy and role still remains a major controversy. Most of the studies suggest that methylprednisolone when given in the Intravenous route of with the dose of 0.5-1mg/kg has showed the positive response by decreasing the mortality rate in elderly patients, has shown good benefit in patients with excessive inflammation, improved the survival outcome, decreased the requirement for mechanical ventilation, decreased the hospital stay. It is important to make a careful decision when administering corticosteroids, making it certain that the benefits outweigh the risks. Further studies have to be conducted to study the role of corticosteroids which will helps to stipulate the Rational Therapy.

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