Dexamethasone Trial Results Confirm COVID-19 Benefits But Also Risks
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 17, 2020 | 10:30 PM
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2020 ) :The keenly-awaited full results from a UK trial of the steroid dexamethasone were published Friday, confirming its life-saving benefits for COVID-19 patients on ventilators but suggesting it may cause harm if given too early.
A total of 2,104 hospitalized patients were assigned to receive six milligram daily doses of the medicine for up to 10 days, and 4,321 to receive usual care, with the rate of deaths compared after 28 days.
Among patients on ventilators, the rate of death for patients on the drug was 29.3 percent compared to 41.4 percent on those without.
In other words, this group saw a 29 percent reduction in mortality, just under a third.
In patients who were given oxygen but through less invasive means, the benefit was smaller -- 23.3 percent on dexamethasone died versus 26.2 who were not on it.
However, there was no benefit among the group who weren't receiving any oxygenation at the time the trial started.
In this cohort, 17.4 percent on the steroid died compared to 14 percent who did not receive it -- suggesting the drug increased their mortality risk.
This is because the drug works by suppressing the abnormal immune response that damages the body's organs, rather than attacking the virus.
Speaking to AFP in June, leading US scientist Anthony Fauci cautioned that dexamethasone should not be prescribed too soon after a person was infected.
"It had no effect, if not maybe even a suggestion of making things worse early on," he said.
"This is perfectly compatible with knowing that early on in infection, you need the immune system to suppress the virus." The authors of the paper, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, added that getting benefit from the drug "is dependent on a selection of the right dose, at the right time, in the right patient." They added that, as far as the COVID-19 illness is concerned, for patients who require oxygen, the abnormal immune response seems more responsible for harm than the replication of the virus in the body.
But they cautioned that this hypothesis should not be applied to other viral respiratory illnesses, like SARS, MERS and influenza, without further study as they may have different impacts.
Dexamethasone was adopted into UK practice on June 16, the day when the initial results were announced, and is also recommended by the US National Institutes of Health.
On its website, the NIH cautions that it isn't yet known how well dexamethasone might work in combination with the anti-viral drug remdesivir, which has proven beneficial when used alone.
It adds that patients on the drug should be closely monitored for secondary infections and high blood sugar.
It is also known that use of corticosteroids can also re-activate previous infections that were lying dormant, like the hepatitis B virus or tuberculosis.
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
13 hours ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
4 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
5 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
5 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
8 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
11 days ago
-
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
12 days ago -
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
13 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
13 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
13 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
15 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
15 days ago