PROPOSED ESTROGEN THERAPY FOR COVID 19 AND OTHER MICROBIAL INFECTIONS

Abstract

The novel coronavirus or SARS CoV-2 infection or COVID 19, which originated in Wuhan, China is an infection with a new coronavirus. Since there was no previous human exposure to this virus, there was no herd immunity. Despite this universal absence of herd and adaptive immunity, there are considerable gender differences in mortality among men and women. In addition, mortality in children is considerably low as compared to adults (https://www.worldometers.info/coconavirus/Coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/ Coronavirus Age, Sex, Demographics (COVID 19) – Worldometer). This implies stronger innate and adaptive immunity are at play in children and women as compared to that in adult men. Less severe affliction of women may be due to higher levels of estradiol in pre-menopausal women that in men. Estradiol has a favorable influence on innate and adaptive immunity (Carmen Giefing-Kröll et al. Aging Cell. 2015 Jun; 14(3): 309–321). Arsenicum Album 30, a homeopathic medicine, recommended by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, (https://www.ayush.gov.in/docs/homeopathy-guidelines.pdf) has arsenic, which is a metalloestrogen (P D Darbre J Appl Toxicol. May-Jun 2006; 26(3):191-7); which appears to be the reason for its effectiveness in the treatment of COVID 19 or SARS Cov-2. Estradiol has thromboembolic effects when administered orally. However, transdermal estradiol is safer, without thromboembolic effects and is already in use in some countries (Archer DF et al. Climacteric. 2012 Jun;15(3):235-40.; Marianne Canonico et al Circulation. 2007;115:840–845). Estrogen therapy is given in some forms of prostatic cancer in men. In view of these potential benefits of estrogen, estradiol transdermal therapy should be tried as a repurposed or investigational drug along with routine treatment of COVID 19 in men and post-menopausal women and in similar infections with new microbes in the absence of specific treatment.