Dexamethasone: Therapeutic potential, risks, and future projection during COVID-19 pandemic

Eur J Pharmacol. 2021 Mar 5:894:173854. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173854. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Abstract

The current outbreak of novel COVID-19 challenges the development of an efficient treatment plan as soon as possible. Several promising treatment options stand out as potential therapy of COVID-19, including plasma-derived drugs, monoclonal antibodies, antivirals, antimalarial, cell therapy, and corticosteroids. Dexamethasone an approved corticosteroid medication, acting as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant agent. In the current pandemic, dexamethasone is declared a "major development" in the fight against COVID-19. Steroidal dexamethasone was presented as the recent advancement that significantly reduces the mortality rate among severe COVID-19 cases. This review summarizes the preliminary opinion about the dexamethasone outbreak, therapeutic potential, risks, and strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); COVID-19 therapeutics; Corticosteroid; Dexamethasone; Immunosuppressant; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Dexamethasone / adverse effects
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Pandemics*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Dexamethasone