COVID-related fibrosis: insights into potential drug targets.
Expert Opin Investig Drugs
; 30(12): 1183-1195, 2021 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1541410
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Lung injury in severe COVID-19 pneumonia can rapidly evolve to established pulmonary fibrosis, with prognostic implications in the acute phase of the disease and long-lasting impact on the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors. This is an emerging medical need, and it has been hypothesized that antifibrotic treatments could have a role in ameliorating the fibrotic process in the lungs of these patients. AREAS COVERED The safety and efficacy of available antifibrotic drugs (nintedanib and pirfenidone) and novel promising agents are being assessed in several ongoing clinical trials that were performed either in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care, or in discharged patients presenting fibrotic sequalae from COVID-19. Literature search was performed using Medline and Clinicaltrials.org databases (2001-2021). EXPERT OPINION Despite the strong rationale support the use of antifibrotic therapies in COVID-related fibrosis, there are several uncertainties regarding the timing for their introduction and the real risks/benefits ratio of antifibrotic treatment in the acute and the chronic phases of the disease. The findings of ongoing clinical trials and the long-term observation of longitudinal cohorts will eventually clarify the best management approach for these patients.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pulmonary Fibrosis
/
COVID-19
/
Antifibrotic Agents
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Expert Opin Investig Drugs
Journal subject:
Drug Therapy
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
13543784.2021.2010188
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