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Perricone C, Triggianese P, Bartoloni E, Cafaro G, Bonifacio AF, Bursi R, Perricone R, Gerli R. The anti-viral facet of anti-rheumatic drugs: Lessons from COVID-19. J Autoimmun 2020; 111:102468. [PMID: 32317220 PMCID: PMC7164894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has posed the world at a pandemic risk. Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which causes pneumonia, requires intensive care unit hospitalization in about 10% of cases and can lead to a fatal outcome. Several efforts are currently made to find a treatment for COVID-19 patients. So far, several anti-viral and immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs have demonstrated some efficacy on COVID-19 both in vitro and in animal models as well as in cases series. In COVID-19 patients a pro-inflammatory status with high levels of interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-1 receptor (R)A and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has been demonstrated. Moreover, high levels of IL-6 and TNF-α have been observed in patients requiring intensive-care-unit hospitalization. This provided rationale for the use of anti-rheumatic drugs as potential treatments for this severe viral infection. Other agents, such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine might have a direct anti-viral effect. The anti-viral aspect of immunosuppressants towards a variety of viruses has been known since long time and it is herein discussed in the view of searching for a potential treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Perricone
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paola Triggianese
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Bartoloni
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Cafaro
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angelo F Bonifacio
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Bursi
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Perricone
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Gerli
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
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