A retrospective comparison of drugs against COVID-19

Virus Res. 2021 Mar:294:198262. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198262. Epub 2020 Dec 14.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has posed serious threats to the general population. To relieve the crisis, a comparison of drug effects against COVID-19 is instructive. Between January 27, 2020 and March 21, 2020, a total of 333 patients treated with arbidol, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, or oseltamivir monotherapy, having definite outcomes and serological antibody detection results, were retrospectively analyzed. The hydroxychloroquine group had a significantly reduced duration of hospital stay than the arbidol and corticosteroids groups. The oseltamivir group had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay than the arbidol, corticosteroids, and lopinavir/ritonavir groups. The hydroxychloroquine group had a significantly higher IgM titer than the other four groups and exhibited significantly higher IgG levels than the arbidol, lopinavir/ritonavir, and oseltamivir groups. Our findings indicated that hydroxychloroquine might have the potential for efficient COVID-19 management, while oseltamivir should be prudently considered in combination therapy.

Keywords: Arbidol; COVID-19; Corticosteroids; Hydroxychloroquine; Lopinavir/ritonavir; Oseltamivir.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / pathology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Length of Stay
  • Lopinavir / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oseltamivir / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ritonavir / therapeutic use
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Drug Combinations
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Indoles
  • lopinavir-ritonavir drug combination
  • Oseltamivir
  • Lopinavir
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • umifenovir
  • Ritonavir