Natural history of COVID-19 and therapeutic options.
Expert Rev Clin Immunol
; 16(12): 1159-1184, 2020 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1032979
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
COVID-19 presents benign forms in young patients who frequently present with anosmia. Infants are rarely infected, while severe forms occur in patients over 65 years of age with comorbidities, including hypertension and diabetes. Lymphopenia, eosinopenia, thrombopenia, increased lactate dehydrogenase, troponin, C-reactive protein, D-dimers and low zinc levels are associated with severity.Areas covered The authors review the literature and provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the natural history of and therapeutic options for COVID-19. Expert opinion Diagnosis should rely on PCR and not on clinical presumption. Because of discrepancies between clinical symptoms, oxygen saturation or radiological signs on CT scans, pulse oximetry, and radiological investigation should be systematic. The disease evolves in successive phases an acute virological phase, and, in some patients, a cytokine storm phase; an uncontrolled coagulopathy; and an acute respiratory distress syndrome. Therapeutic options include antivirals, oxygen therapy, immunomodulators, anticoagulants and prolonged mechanical treatment. Early diagnosis, care, and implementation of an antiviral treatment; the use of immunomodulators at a later stage; and the quality of intensive care are critical regarding mortality rates. The higher mortality observed in Western countries remains unexplained. Pulmonary fibrosis may occur in some patients. Its future is unpredictable.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Systematic review/Meta Analysis
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Expert Rev Clin Immunol
Journal subject:
Allergy and Immunology
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
1744666x.2021.1847640
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