Ruxolitinib for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Andreas Neubauer, Thomas Wiesmann, Claus Vogelmeier, Elisabeth Mack, Chrysanthi Skevaki, Christine Gaik, Christian Keller, Jens Figiel, Kristina Sohlbach, Caroline Rolfes, Harald Renz, Hinnerk Wulf, Andreas Burchert
Abstract
Since its outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan, China COVID-19 is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. In most cases, COVID-19 is associated with mild respiratory symptoms. However, in ~15% of the patients, hospitalization is required, and about 5% of patients develop severe lung injury that can result in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS may be accompanied by sepsis and septic shock, and multiorgan failure, including acute kidney injury and cardiac injury. Older age, obesity, pulmonary and other comorbidities are risk factors for higher mortality It has also been reported that the extent of inflammation-mirrored by peripheral blood cytokine levels-is associated with a worse outcome