Coping with hypoxemia: Could erythropoietin (EPO) be an adjuvant treatment of COVID-19?
Respir Physiol Neurobiol
; 279: 103476, 2020 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-548157
ABSTRACT
A very recent epidemiological study provides preliminary evidence that living in habitats located at 2500â¯m above sea level (masl) might protect from the development of severe respiratory symptoms following infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. This epidemiological finding raises the question of whether physiological mechanisms underlying the acclimatization to high altitude identifies therapeutic targets for the effective treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome pivotal to the reduction of global mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article compares the symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) with those of SARS-CoV-2 infection and explores overlapping patho-physiological mechanisms of the respiratory system including impaired oxygen transport, pulmonary gas exchange and brainstem circuits controlling respiration. In this context, we also discuss the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on oxygen sensing in the carotid body. Finally, since erythropoietin (EPO) is an effective prophylactic treatment for AMS, this article reviews the potential benefits of implementing FDA-approved erythropoietin-based (EPO) drug therapies to counteract a variety of acute respiratory and non-respiratory (e.g. excessive inflammation of vascular beds) symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Erythropoietin
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Altitude Sickness
/
Acclimatization
/
Hypoxia
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Respir Physiol Neurobiol
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
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