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Salton F, Confalonieri P, Meduri GU, Mondini L, Trotta L, Barbieri M, Bozzi C, Torregiani C, Lerda S, Bellan M, Confalonieri M, Ruaro B, Tavano S, Pozzan R. Theory and Practice of Glucocorticoids in COVID-19: Getting to the Heart of the Matter-A Critical Review and Viewpoints. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:924. [PMID: 37513836 PMCID: PMC10385094 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged, low-dose glucocorticoids (GCs) have shown the highest efficacy among pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for COVID-19. Despite the World Health Organization's recommendation against their use at the beginning of the pandemic, GCs at a dose equivalent to dexamethasone 6 mg/day for 10 days are now indicated in all COVID-19 cases who require respiratory support. However, the efficacy of the intervention depends on the timing of initiation, the dose, and other individual factors. Indeed, patients treated with similar GC protocols often experience different outcomes, which do not always correlate with the presence of comorbidities or with the severity of respiratory involvement at baseline. This prompted us to critically review the literature on the rationale, pharmacological principles, and clinical evidence that should guide GC treatment. Based on these data, the best treatment protocol probably involves an initial bolus dose to saturate the glucocorticoid receptors, followed by a continuous infusion to maintain constant plasma levels, and eventually a slow tapering to interruption. Methylprednisolone has shown the highest efficacy among different GC molecules, most likely thanks to its higher ability to penetrate the lung. Decreased tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids is thought to be the main mechanism accounting for the lower response to the treatment in some individuals. We do not have a readily available test to identify GC resistance; therefore, to address inter-individual variability, future research should aim at investigating clinical, physiological, and laboratory markers to guide a personalized GC treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Salton
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Paola Confalonieri
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Umberto Meduri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Lucrezia Mondini
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Liliana Trotta
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Mariangela Barbieri
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Bozzi
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Torregiani
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Selene Lerda
- Business School, University of Milano, 20149 Milano, Italy
| | - Mattia Bellan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
- Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Disease (CAAD), Università del Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
- A.O.U. Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Marco Confalonieri
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Barbara Ruaro
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Tavano
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pozzan
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Murakami K, Sano H, Tode N, Tsukita Y, Sato K, Narita D, Kimura N, Matsumoto S, Ono Y, Iwasaki C, Sugiyama H, Suzuki M, Kakuto S, Konno S, Kanamori H, Baba H, Oshima K, Takei K, Tokuda K, Tamada T, Sugiura H. Clinical features of COVID-19 patients with rebound phenomenon after corticosteroid therapy. BMJ Open Respir Res 2022. [PMCID: PMC9445231 DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rational Corticosteroid therapy plays a key role in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure. However, a rebound phenomenon after steroid cessation rarely occurs. Here, we investigated the clinical features of patients with rebound after steroid therapy. Methods In total, 84 patients with COVID-19 treated with corticosteroids were enrolled and analysed retrospectively. A rebound was defined as when a patient’s respiratory status deteriorated after the cessation of corticosteroid therapy, without secondary bacterial infection. Results Subjects in the rebound group were more likely to having severe respiratory failure than those in the non-rebound group. While the duration of steroid therapy was longer in the rebound group (8 days vs 10 days, p=0.0009), the dosage of steroid and the timing of the start or termination of steroid therapy did not show any differences between the two groups (p=0.17 and 0.68, respectively). The values of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) at the baseline and the values of C reactive protein (CRP) or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at the end of steroid therapy were significantly higher in the rebound group (937 vs 1336 U/mL; p=0.002, 0.63 vs 3.96 mg/dL; p=0.01 and 278 vs 451 IU/mL; p=0.01, respectively). No patient in the rebound group suffered from thromboses, and the causes of death were exacerbation of COVID-19, ventilator-associated pneumonia or sepsis. The prediction model using baseline features for the rebound phenomenon included four variables of age >68 years, required supplemental oxygen >5 L/min, lymphocyte counts <792 /µL and sIL-2R >1146 U/mL. The discrimination ability of this model was 0.906 (0.755–0.968). Conclusion These findings suggest that severe respiratory failure has a higher risk for the rebound phenomenon after the cessation of corticosteroids, and the values of sIL-2R, LDH and CRP are useful to assess the probability of developing rebound. A multivariate model was developed to predict rebound risk, which showed acceptable discrimination ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Murakami
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hirohito Sano
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Naoki Tode
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoko Tsukita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kei Sato
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daisuke Narita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nozomu Kimura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shuichiro Matsumoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Ono
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Chikashi Iwasaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hatsumi Sugiyama
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Manami Suzuki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sho Kakuto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shuichi Konno
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hajime Kanamori
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Baba
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kengo Oshima
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kentarou Takei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Koichi Tokuda
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Tamada
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hisatoshi Sugiura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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