Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review
Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus that causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents have been proposed as potential treatments. Azithromycin exhibits both properties and therefore may play a role. Areas covered: This article reviews the pharmacology, pharma...
| Authors: | ; ; ; ; ; ; |
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| Format: | Article |
| Status: | Accepted version |
| Publication date: | 2021 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Universitat Pompeu Fabra |
| Repository: | Repositorio Digital de la UPF |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:repositori.upf.edu:10230/47991 |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10230/47991 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2020.1813024 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Azithromycin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Cytokine release syndrome Immunomodulation Pneumonia |
| _version_ | 1878732138115760129 |
|---|---|
| author | Echeverría Esnal, Daniel |
| author2 | Martín-Ontiyuelo, Clara Navarrete Rouco, Maria Eugenia De Antonio Cuscó, Marta Ferrández, Olivia Horcajada Gallego, Juan Pablo Grau Cerrato, Santiago |
| author2_role | author author author author author author |
| author_browse | De Antonio Cuscó, Marta Echeverría Esnal, Daniel Ferrández, Olivia Grau Cerrato, Santiago Horcajada Gallego, Juan Pablo Martín-Ontiyuelo, Clara Navarrete Rouco, Maria Eugenia |
| author_facet | Echeverría Esnal, Daniel Martín-Ontiyuelo, Clara Navarrete Rouco, Maria Eugenia De Antonio Cuscó, Marta Ferrández, Olivia Horcajada Gallego, Juan Pablo Grau Cerrato, Santiago |
| author_role | author |
| collection | Repositorio Digital de la UPF |
| description | Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus that causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents have been proposed as potential treatments. Azithromycin exhibits both properties and therefore may play a role. Areas covered: This article reviews the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of azithromycin in viral infections, with emphasis on COVID-19. A literature search of PUBMED was conducted on May 30th and updated on July 28th. Expert opinion: Azithromycin presents in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 and could act in different points of the viral cycle. Its immunomodulatory properties include the ability to downregulate cytokine production, maintain epithelial cell integrity or prevent lung fibrosis. Azithromycin use was associated with a reduction in mortality and ventilation days in other viral infections. These properties could be beneficial throughout the COVID-19. However, the evidence of its use is scarce and of low quality. Azithromycin has been assessed in retrospective observational studies mainly in combination with hydroxychloroquine, which has shown to provide no benefit. This macrolide presents a well-known safety profile. Upcoming clinical trials will determine the role of azithromycin in the COVID-19 (including the stage of the disease where it offers the greatest benefits and the effect of its combination with other drugs). |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| format | article |
| id | ES_3d54d3fdc8d87aebc84e076e17dc960f |
| institution | Universitat Pompeu Fabra |
| instname_str | Universitat Pompeu Fabra |
| network_acronym_str | ES |
| network_name_str | España |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:repositori.upf.edu:10230/47991 |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| publisherStr | Taylor & Francis |
| reponame_str | Repositorio Digital de la UPF |
| spelling | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review Echeverría Esnal, Daniel Martín-Ontiyuelo, Clara Navarrete Rouco, Maria Eugenia De Antonio Cuscó, Marta Ferrández, Olivia Horcajada Gallego, Juan Pablo Grau Cerrato, Santiago Azithromycin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Cytokine release syndrome Immunomodulation Pneumonia Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus that causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents have been proposed as potential treatments. Azithromycin exhibits both properties and therefore may play a role. Areas covered: This article reviews the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of azithromycin in viral infections, with emphasis on COVID-19. A literature search of PUBMED was conducted on May 30th and updated on July 28th. Expert opinion: Azithromycin presents in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 and could act in different points of the viral cycle. Its immunomodulatory properties include the ability to downregulate cytokine production, maintain epithelial cell integrity or prevent lung fibrosis. Azithromycin use was associated with a reduction in mortality and ventilation days in other viral infections. These properties could be beneficial throughout the COVID-19. However, the evidence of its use is scarce and of low quality. Azithromycin has been assessed in retrospective observational studies mainly in combination with hydroxychloroquine, which has shown to provide no benefit. This macrolide presents a well-known safety profile. Upcoming clinical trials will determine the role of azithromycin in the COVID-19 (including the stage of the disease where it offers the greatest benefits and the effect of its combination with other drugs). Taylor & Francis http://hdl.handle.net/10230/47991 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2020.1813024 |
| spellingShingle | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review Echeverría Esnal, Daniel Azithromycin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Cytokine release syndrome Immunomodulation Pneumonia |
| status_str | acceptedVersion |
| title | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review |
| title_full | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review |
| title_fullStr | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review |
| title_short | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review |
| title_sort | Azithromycin in the treatment of COVID-19: a review |
| topic | Azithromycin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Cytokine release syndrome Immunomodulation Pneumonia |
| topic_facet | Azithromycin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Cytokine release syndrome Immunomodulation Pneumonia |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10230/47991 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2020.1813024 |