Effect of Arbidol on COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The treatment of patients with COVID-19 included supportive care to relief the symptoms mainly. Although WHO mentioned there is not any effective treatments for COVID-19, but there is some reporting about the use of some antiviral drugs. The aim of current study is to determine the effect of Arbidol (ARB) on COVID-19 disease. Methods: Using an open label randomized controlled trial, effectiveness of ARB on COVID-19 disease was conducted in a teaching hospital. One hundred eligible patients with diagnosis of Covid-19 recruited in the study and assigned randomly to two groups of either Hydroxychloroquine followed by Kaletra (Lopinavir-ritonavir) or Hydroxychloroquine followed by ARB. The primary outcome was hospitalization duration and clinical improvement 7 days after admission. The criteria of improvement were relief of cough, dyspnea and fever. Time to relieving fever was assessed across two groups too. Without any drop out, 100 patients were entered to final analysis with significant level of 0.05. Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.6 (17.8) and 56.2 (14.8) in ARB and Kaletra groups respectively. Majority of patients were male across two groups (66% and 54%). The duration of hospitalization in ARB group was less than Kaletra arm significantly (7.2 versus 9.6 days; P=0.02). Time to relief fever was almost similar across two groups (2.7 versus 3.1 days in ARB and Kaletra arms respectively). Peripheral oxygen saturation rate was different after seven days of admission across two groups significantly (94% versus 92% in ARB and Kaletra groups respectively) (P=0.02). Based on multiple linear regression analysis, IHD, Na level and oxygen saturation at the time of admission and type of therapy were the independent adjusted variables that determined the duration of hospitalization in patients with COVID-19.Conclusion: Our findings showed that Arbidol, compared to Kaletra, significantly contributes to clinical and laboratory improvements, including peripheral oxygen saturation, requiring ICU admissions, duration of hospitalization, chest CT involvements, WBC, and ESR. We suggest further studies on ARB using larger sample size and multicenter design.Trial registration: IRCT20180725040596N2 on 18 April 2020.

Interventions for treatment of COVID-19: second edition of a living systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (The LIVING Project)

“…One single trial randomizing 78 participants compared bromhexidine hydrochloride versus standard care and showed evidence of a beneficial effect of bromhexidine hydrochloride on admittance to intensive care ( p = 0.013) and receipt of mechanical ventilation ( p = 0.014) [104]. One single trial randomizing 100 participants compared hydroxychloroquine combined with arbidol versus hydroxychloroquine combined with lopinavir-ritonavir and showed evidence of a beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine combined with arbidol on admission to intensive care ( p = 0.0001) [109].…”

Age-dependent immune responses in COVID-19-mediated liver injury: focus on cytokines

“…[249] The seropositivity rate for anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), and anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA) varied between studies, and the IgG level was high in most of the ¬patients ( 214 ). Liver biopsies exhibited a varied pattern, including histological features consistent with AIH, such as interface hepatitis, portal inflammation, and non-specific centrilobular necrosis ( 228 ). Additionally, after vaccination, severe thrombosis in the portal and splenic veins and immune thrombocytopenic purpura were linked with ALI ( 218 , 220 ).…”

Clinical trials in COVID-19 management & prevention: A meta-epidemiological study examining methodological quality

“…The 91 included trials enrolled a total of 46,802 patients between January 18 (first recruitment) and October 4 (last recruitment). Included trials evaluated one or more drugs (n = 76, [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , [68] , [69] , [70] , [71] , [72] , [73] , [74] , ...…”