Inhibition of IL-1/IL-6 Pathway Reduces Mortality in Patients with SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Background: Novel 2019 Coronavirus (covid-19) or SARSCoV-2 disease is spreading quickly throughout the globe and threatening public health. Severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2 may precipitate “cytokine” storm, immune system dysregulation, and hyper-coagulation that are responsible for several organ failure, morbidity, and mortality. The severity of infection symptoms is extremely variable from mild symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and interplay between the immune system response and dysregulation of coagulation system are hypothesized to play a critical role in the pathological mechanism of seriously ill patients with covid-19 infection via the IL-1/IL-6 central pathway.Methods: The role of SARS-CoV-2 virus in covid-19 disease through cytokine storm and coagulopathy has been discussed in the present brief review. The electronic databases Pubmed, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS were searched to retrieve related English-language articles published between the years 2019 and 2021.Results: The interplay between immune system responses and coagulation pathway was observed in pathological condition of coronavirus patients, leading to abnormal condition of clot formation and increasing incidence of strokes. Indeed, in nonsurvivor patients, the levels of IL-6, IL-1, and D-dimer were higher than survivor coronavirus patients.Conclusion: Severe SARS-CoV-2 patients with higher level of IL-1/IL-6 and coagulation abnormality confirm this hypothesis that anticytokine drugs are effective for managing cytokine storm, preventing the risk of strokes, and reducing hospitalization and mortality in covid-19 patients.

Keywords

• covid-19
• il-1/ il-6
• coagulation abnormality
• stroke
• mortality