New opportunities of antiinflammatory therapy in comprehensive treatment for covid-19

Abstract

Antiviral and antiinflammatory drugs used in patients with COVID-19 are currently showing multiple side effects. This necessitates the search for effective and safe medications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Objective. Тo evaluate the experience of using ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), an antiinflammatory drug, in comprehensive treatment of adult patients hospitalized with moderate COVID-19. Patients and methods. This observational study included 172 patients;123 of them received AG in addition to standard therapy (experimental group), whereas 49 individuals received only standard therapy (control group). During the follow-up period, we performed daily monitoring of physical parameters, severity of each symptom, and overall condition using the NEWS scale. Results. Patients in the experimental group demonstrated faster improvement and normalization of their NEWS score compared to controls: the proportion of individuals with NEWS score 0 (day/night) on day 8 was significantly higher among those receiving AG than among controls (35% vs 16%;р = 0.016). Therapy with AG ensured rapid normalization of important parameters, including oxygen saturation (SpO2 ≥96%) and respiratory rate. Patients in the experimental group started sputum production early (on day 3), and already by day 7–8 had this symptom subsided. Individuals receiving AG developed wheezing significantly earlier than controls;moreover, there was a trend to faster resolution of this symptom in the experimental group than in the control group. A total of 45% and 11% of patients in the experimental group required infusion therapy and administration of at least 3 antibacterial drugs, respectively;these proportions were lower than those in the control group (67% and 31%, respectively;p = 0.008, р = 0.006). Conclusion. The inclusion of AG in the treatment scheme for patients with moderate COVID-19 ensured earlier recovery, resolution of clinical symptoms, and restoration of the drainage function of the lungs. AG increased the efficacy of comprehensive therapy, reducing the need to increase its intensity, and had a positive effect on the disease prognosis. © 2021, Dynasty Publishing House. All rights reserved.