Abstract
Background: Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, potential therapeutic agents are being evaluated almost every day. Ciclosporin, a calcineurin inhibitor, is characterized by beneficial antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ciclosporin in managing COVID-19.
Methods: This study was a prospective non-controlled clinical trial carried out on 20 patients. Confirmed COVID-19 patients received two doses of ciclosporin (10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg injections) 24 h apart. Mortality rate and the lengths of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays were assessed for all 20 patients.
Results: The mortality rate and the need for mechanical ventilation were calculated as 50%. The percentage of ICU admission was 70%. The lengths of ICU and hospital stays were 8.13 ± 6.81 and 14.25 ± 8.55 days, respectively. The levels of ferritin and white blood cells were significantly higher after injecting the second dose of ciclosporin. Seven patients (35%) had radiologically improved lungs after ciclosporin therapy.
Conclusion: It seems that the protocol of two doses of ciclosporin in combination with favipiravir does not have favorable effects among COVID-19 patients that do not respond to dexamethasone. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the results.
Keywords: COVID-19; Calcineurin inhibitors; Ciclosporin; SARS-CoV-2.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, calcineurin inhibitors, Ciclosporin, 【초록키워드】 Dexamethasone, SARS-CoV-2, Efficacy, clinical trial, therapy, protocol, Trial, intensive care, Antiviral, mechanical ventilation, COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care unit, Favipiravir, lung, ferritin, immunomodulatory effects, ICU, White blood cell, controlled trials, Patient, ICU admission, mortality rate, inhibitor, patients, Combination, Ciclosporin, dose, COVID-19 patient, Hospital stay, White blood cells, potential therapeutic agents, second dose, Injections, confirmed COVID-19 patients, calcineurin, evaluate, carried, evaluated, characterized, calculated, potential therapeutic agent, significantly higher, Controlled, respond, Confirmed COVID-19 patient, favorable effect, were assessed, 【제목키워드】 Prospective, Ciclosporin, Combined, Responding,