Exogenous Surfactant Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Moderate and Severe ARDS in COVID-19: The Pilot Study of a Clinical Trial
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health challenge. Many pharmaceuticals have been repurposed as potential treatments; though many have not been promising. Due to the inflammatory and destructive effects of the virus on alveolar cells, the effect of exogenous surfactant was assessed as a potential treatment of lung dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.
Methods: In this pilot study of the clinical trial, 49 patients aged 35-80 years with COVID-19 admitted in ICU entered the study (22 patients intubated and 23 had face masks; 4 patients in the control arm). The treatment arm patients received two consecutive doses of surfactant. P/F ratio (based on serial blood gas analyses before and 12 hours after 2 doses of surfactant) and also, clinical outcomes were assessed.
Results: in COVID-19 adult patients, surfactant significantly improved pulmonary P/F ratio both in intubated and face mask COVID-19 patients (increasing from 119.2 ±51.7 to 179.4±115.5). The rate of extubation was much better than similar country-wide studies.
Conclusions: Surfactant significantly alleviates the respiratory status in moderate to severe COVID-19 ARDS with two consecutive 100 mg doses of surfactant (with 6 hours’ interval); though previous studies have been controversial, regarding the effect of surfactant in general forms of ARDS. Higher doses might have better effects, mandating more trials.
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Posted 31 Dec, 2020
On 01 Jan, 2021
Received 01 Jan, 2021
Invitations sent on 29 Dec, 2020
On 20 Dec, 2020
On 20 Dec, 2020
On 20 Dec, 2020
On 17 Dec, 2020
Exogenous Surfactant Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Moderate and Severe ARDS in COVID-19: The Pilot Study of a Clinical Trial
Posted 31 Dec, 2020
On 01 Jan, 2021
Received 01 Jan, 2021
Invitations sent on 29 Dec, 2020
On 20 Dec, 2020
On 20 Dec, 2020
On 20 Dec, 2020
On 17 Dec, 2020
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health challenge. Many pharmaceuticals have been repurposed as potential treatments; though many have not been promising. Due to the inflammatory and destructive effects of the virus on alveolar cells, the effect of exogenous surfactant was assessed as a potential treatment of lung dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.
Methods: In this pilot study of the clinical trial, 49 patients aged 35-80 years with COVID-19 admitted in ICU entered the study (22 patients intubated and 23 had face masks; 4 patients in the control arm). The treatment arm patients received two consecutive doses of surfactant. P/F ratio (based on serial blood gas analyses before and 12 hours after 2 doses of surfactant) and also, clinical outcomes were assessed.
Results: in COVID-19 adult patients, surfactant significantly improved pulmonary P/F ratio both in intubated and face mask COVID-19 patients (increasing from 119.2 ±51.7 to 179.4±115.5). The rate of extubation was much better than similar country-wide studies.
Conclusions: Surfactant significantly alleviates the respiratory status in moderate to severe COVID-19 ARDS with two consecutive 100 mg doses of surfactant (with 6 hours’ interval); though previous studies have been controversial, regarding the effect of surfactant in general forms of ARDS. Higher doses might have better effects, mandating more trials.