Type I interferon (IFN) is widely used to treat viral infections with no specific drugs or vaccines. Several countries have approved IFN for the treatment of COVID-19. In China, aerosol inhalation of interferon-alpha-2b at a dosage of 5,000,000 IU twice a day is recommended for the treatment of coronavirus.
Chinese scientists investigated the effect of inhaled interferon-alpha-2b on symptoms and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
The study included 1,401 patients over 18 years of age with moderate, severe, or critical COVID-19:
- 847 patients received 5,000,000 units of interferon-alpha-2b twice daily by aerosol inhalation in addition to supportive care and management of complications.
- 5 patients received only one dose of IFN-alpha-2b.
- 549 patients received only standard treatment and constituted the control group.
Scientists evaluated:
- risk of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation/failure of other organs and the need for observation and treatment in the intensive care unit/death;
- duration of hospitalization;
- time from onset of symptoms or hospitalization to a negative PCR test;
- the relationship between the timing of the start of treatment with IFN-alpha-2b and clinical outcomes.
Interferon-Alpha-2b Inhalations Reduced The Risk of Severe COVID-19 Outcomes by 64%
In both groups, disease progression or death occurred in 83 patients on average 5 days after hospitalization:
- 32 patients (3.8%) in the IFN-alpha-2b treatment group;
- 51 patients (9.3%) in the control group.
Time to negative PCR test and duration of hospitalization did not differ significantly between the interferon and control groups
The period from hospitalization to a negative PCR test: 13 days in the interferon-alpha-2b group, 14 days in the control group.
The period from the onset of symptoms to a negative PCR test: 17 days in the interferon-alpha-2b group, 20 days in the control group.
Duration of hospitalization for discharged patients: 17 days in the interferon-alpha-2b group, 18 days in the control group.
Clinical Outcome of COVID-19 Depends on The Timing Of Interferon-Alpha-2b Treatment Initial
The later interferon treatment starts, the higher the risk of the severe outcome. Peak risk with late administration of interferon occurs approximately 7 days after the onset of the disease. This time coincides with the peak load of SARS-CoV-2. After that, the risk remains high.
The median time from symptom onset to initiation of IFN-alpha-2b treatment was 5 days.
Compared with patients who received IFN-alpha-2b treatment 0–2 days after symptom onset, the risk of severe outcome increased:
- 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms – 2.2 times;
- in 6-8 days – by 5.89 times.
Conclusion
The most effective is the early administration of interferon. It can reduce disease severity and mortality. However, delayed treatment with IFN increases the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to fatal pneumonia.
Inhaled interferon-alpha-2b combined with standard care improves clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Treatment with IFN-alpha-2b reduces the incidence of severe outcomes by 64%.
Useful article, necessary information? Share it!
Someone will also find it useful and necessary:
