Title: Efficacy Outcomes on morbidity and mortality of Intravenous Bolus Artesunate Therapy among Rapid Antigen Test and RT-PCR Negative Hospitalized Moderate to Severe Clinically Proven COVID-19 Patients: A Breakthrough large case series
Authors: Pradhan B, Kullu BK, Thakur AK, Mohapatra MK, Akhil NV, Panigrahi DK, Murmu M, Majhi CD, Nanda BC.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i8.24
Abstract
COVID-19 infection is not restricted to respiratory system and is a multisystem inflammatory disease, involving complex interplay of immunological, inflammatory, coagulation cascades, age and co-morbidities manifested by elevated inflammatory markers, coagulation disorders and immunological dysfunction with variable clinical manifestations. The diagnostic gold standard RT-PCR test has frequent false negative results. Diagnosis of clinical COVID-19 infection among highly suspected RT-PCR negative moderate to severe cases were done by measurement of panel of diagnostic criteria from baseline routine blood test, inflammatory blood biomarkers, coagulation dysfunction and imaging studies. Further confirmation of diagnosis was made by testing of COVID-19 specific antibodies at appropriate follow up time. Artesunate have antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 in- vitro studies. Empirical IV bolus Artesunate therapy of clinical COVID-19 associate with faster resolution of symptoms and appears to be very effective with excellent safety profile; prevents disease progression, thereby reduces morbidity and mortality among clinically diagnosed moderate to severe COVID-19 patients.
Keywords: COVID-19, IV Artesunate, Inflammatory blood biomarkers, diagnosis, COVID-19 antibodies.
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