High-Dose Pulse Steroids for the Treatment of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Simple Case Series.

ABSTRACT

Pulse steroids therapy is widely used to treat flare-ups of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. The main assumption is that severe inflammation caused by an autoimmune disease must be aggressively quelled before it causes further damage. We present a series of 9 cases that explore the use of high-dose pulse steroids in hypoxemic respiratory failure. We used high-dose steroids to alter the outcome of some patients, using commonly accepted protocols such as 6 mg of dexamethasone via IV, baricitinib, and tocilizumab. The outcome of each case is discussed. The patients were treated with 500 mg of high-dose methylprednisolone via IV for 3 days, followed by 250 mg via IV for 3 days; followed by 12 or 6 mg of dexamethasone was administered daily by mouth or IV. A retrospective review of patients who received a computerized tomography pulmonary angiogram showed that these patients had organizing pneumonia features. Eight out of nine cases had a favorable outcome.