Consideration of dornase alfa for the treatment of severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome
Alexander Earhart, Z. Holliday, H Hofmann, Adam G. Schrum
Abstract
We propose a likely contribution to severe COVID-19 morbidity by extracellular DNA in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Dornase alfa degrades extracellular DNA to reduce mucus rigidity and accumulation, and was associated with respiratory improvement in a first patient. Dornase alfa should be considered for clinical trials in treatment of severe COVID-19.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineAcute respiratory distressNeutrophil extracellular trapsExtracellularCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Respiratory distressRespiratory systemMucusIntensive care medicineClinical trialLungInternal medicineBiologyAnesthesiaInflammationDiseaseEcologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)Cell biologyNeutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative MechanismsImmune cells in cancerS100 Proteins and Annexins