Clinical characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Hangzhou, China: the combination of lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon, and arbidol may be a well choice for antiviral therapy in common cases

Abstract

Background Since December 2019, when Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China, it is currently causing outbreaks in many countries worldwide. No specific therapeutics have yet been proven effective for the treatment of COVID-19. Methods A retrospective, single-center case series study was conducted in a designated hospital for special treatment of COVID-19 in Hangzhou, China. Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients were described and compared between the common and severe groups. Multiple linear regression and sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the antiviral effects of the 3-drug combination therapy (lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon, and arbidol). Results One hundred and ten confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled, including 99 common cases and 11 severe cases. The mean age was 43.1 years and 54.5% were female. Severe patients might be older (P < 0.01), and have more coexisting disorders (P < 0.01), lower levels of lymphocyte counts (P = 0.016), blood sodium (P = 0.039) and chloride (P < 0.01), and higher levels of C reactive protein and procalcitonin (both P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression and sensitivity analysis indicated that both in Model 1 and Model 2, after adjusted by confounding factors, significant associations between completing the 3-drug combination antiviral therapy (vs. incompleting) and a shorter hospital staying time could be seen (B = -5.970, 95% CI, -9.222, -2.718, P < 0.01, in Model 1; and B = -5.948, 95% CI, -10.622, -1.274, P = 0.014, in Model 2). Conclusions Severe patients might be older and have more comorbidities. The combination of lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon, and arbidol may be a well choice for antiviral therapy, especially in adult common cases.

COVID-19 treatment: Much research and testing, but far, few magic bullets against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

“…It is almost certain that novel and repurposed drugs will be needed in the fight against COVID-19 [ 119 , 120 ]. In this context, cocktail drugs with optimized relationships seem to be more realistic [ [121] , [122] , [123] ]. The combination of anti-HIV Kaletra® (Lopinavir/Ritonavir) drug (3CLpro/PLpro inhibition) and α-interferon (immunomodulatory properties) has been used, but the therapeutic effect remains highly limited, and toxic side effects can occur [ 124 ].…”