Background Several anti-cytokine therapies were tested in the randomized trials in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (COVID-19). Previously, dexamethasone demonstrated a reduction of case-fatality rate in hospitalized patients with respiratory failure. In this matched control study we compared dexamethasone to a Janus kinase inhibitor, ruxolitinib. Methods The matched cohort study included 146 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and oxygen support requirement. The control group was selected 1:1 from 1355 dexamethasone-treated patients and was matched by main clinical and laboratory parameters predicting survival. Recruitment period was April 7, 2020 through September 9, 2020. Results Ruxolitinib treatment in the general cohort of patients was associated with case-fatality rate similar to dexamethasone treatment: 9.6% (95% CI [4.6–14.6%]) vs 13.0% (95% CI [7.5–18.5%]) respectively ( p = 0.35, OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.31–1.57]). Median time to discharge without oxygen support requirement was also not different between these groups: 13 vs. 11 days ( p = 0.13). Subgroup analysis without adjustment for multiple comparisons demonstrated a reduced case-fatality rate in ruxolitnib-treated patients with a high fever (≥ 38.5 °C) (OR 0.33, 95% CI [0.11–1.00]). Except higher incidence of grade 1 thrombocytopenia (37% vs 23%, p = 0.042), ruxolitinib therapy was associated with a better safety profile due to a reduced rate of severe cardiovascular adverse events (6.8% vs 15%, p = 0.025). For 32 patients from ruxolitinib group (21.9%) with ongoing progression of respiratory failure after 72 h of treatment, additional anti-cytokine therapy was prescribed (8–16 mg dexamethasone). Conclusions Ruxolitinib may be an alternative initial anti-cytokine therapy with comparable effectiveness in patients with potential risks of steroid administration. Patients with a high fever (≥ 38.5 °C) at admission may potentially benefit from ruxolitinib administration. Trial registration The Ruxolitinib Managed Access Program (MAP) for Patients Diagnosed With Severe/Very Severe COVID-19 Illness NCT04337359, CINC424A2001M, registered April, 7, 2020. First participant was recruited after registration date Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06982-z.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Dexamethasone, SARS-CoV-2, ruxolitinib, anti-cytokine therapy, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, coronavirus, therapy, Respiratory failure, randomized trial, Infection, progression, discharge, cohort study, survival, Fever, adverse event, Patient, Program, Effectiveness, access, incidence, inhibitor, Admission, safety profile, administration, Janus kinase, Analysis, reduction, acute respiratory syndrome, control group, supplementary material, 95% CI, potential risk, Registered, oxygen support, benefit, laboratory parameter, initial, Result, tested, recruited, reduced, hospitalized patient, demonstrated, comparable, not different, illness, 1:1, cohort of patient, multiple comparison, was selected, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 Hospitalized, cohort study, multicenter,