Dexamethasone was shown to decrease the mortality in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) recently. Use of corticosteroids was harmful in other coronavirus infections previously. WHO recommended against routine use of corticosteroids in COVID-19. In view of these, we reviewed the evidence about the use of corticosteroids in virus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Corticosteroids are beneficial in ARDS regardless of etiology. However, they increased the mortality rate in influenza-associated ARDS. In SARS and the Middle East respiratory syndrome, corticosteroids increased the mortality, delayed the viral clearance and increased the length of hospital stay. In the case of COVID-19, the available evidence from retrospective and observational studies is inconclusive about the corticosteroid use. Low-dose therapies appear to be effective. Evidence from a randomized control study found dexamethasone is effective in decreasing mortality in severe COVID-19 cases. More studies are needed to validate the benefit of corticosteroids in COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Dexamethasone, ARDS, coronavirus, Corticosteroids, acute respiratory distress syndrome, Pneumonia, 【초록키워드】 Corticosteroid, Coronavirus infection, therapy, Mortality, severe COVID-19, observational study, mortality rate, etiology, acute respiratory distress, Evidence, retrospective, Middle East, Hospital stay, syndrome, Inconclusive, effective, benefit, decrease, randomized control study, shown, use of corticosteroid, 【제목키워드】 in viral,