A new COVID-19 study is currently enrolling patients, and researchers believe it has the potential to change the course of the virus around the world.
The study is examining the effects of Colchicine, a widely available and inexpensive anti-inflammatory drug on one of the most common, and most debilitating side effects of SARS-CoV-2–acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
ARDS is caused by an intense inflammatory response that results in what’s called a cytokine storm. Cytokines are molecules that signal to inflammatory cells that there’s a problem within the body that needs their attention. Any normal immune response involves cytokines. In a cytokine storm however, they’re released in larger numbers than necessary, resulting in an immune response out of proportion to the threat at hand, whereby immunecells attack healthy tissues. Cytokine storms in COVID-19 are common and potentially do more damage than the virus itself, causing some patients to develop pneumonia or ARDS, which are life-threatening lung conditions. Many such patients require admission to ICU wards to be provided with respiratory support via mechanical ventilation.
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