COVID-19 as part of the hyperferritinemic syndromes: the role of iron depletion therapy.
Immunol Res
; 68(4): 213-224, 2020 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-651271
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by a protean clinical picture that can range from asymptomatic patients to life-threatening conditions. Severe COVID-19 patients often display a severe pulmonary involvement and develop neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and strikingly elevated levels of IL-6. There is an over-exuberant cytokine release with hyperferritinemia leading to the idea that COVID-19 is part of the hyperferritinemic syndrome spectrum. Indeed, very high levels of ferritin can occur in other diseases including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, macrophage activation syndrome, adult-onset Still's disease, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome and septic shock. Numerous studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of ferritin and its association with mortality and sustained inflammatory process. High levels of free iron are harmful in tissues, especially through the redox damage that can lead to fibrosis. Iron chelation represents a pillar in the treatment of iron overload. In addition, it was proven to have an anti-viral and anti-fibrotic activity. Herein, we analyse the pathogenic role of ferritin and iron during SARS-CoV-2 infection and propose iron depletion therapy as a novel therapeutic approach in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Iron Chelating Agents
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Iron Overload
/
Ferritins
/
Pandemics
/
Betacoronavirus
/
Iron
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Immunol Res
Journal subject:
Allergy and Immunology
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12026-020-09145-5
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