Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2021)

Efficacy and Effect of Inhaled Adenosine Treatment in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

  • Massimo Caracciolo,
  • Pierpaolo Correale,
  • Carmelo Mangano,
  • Giuseppe Foti,
  • Carmela Falcone,
  • Sebastiano Macheda,
  • Maria Cuzzola,
  • Marco Conte,
  • Antonella Consuelo Falzea,
  • Eleonora Iuliano,
  • Antonella Morabito,
  • Michele Caraglia,
  • Michele Caraglia,
  • Nicola Polimeni,
  • Anna Ferrarelli,
  • Demetrio Labate,
  • Marco Tescione,
  • Laura Di Renzo,
  • Gaetano Chiricolo,
  • Lorenzo Romano,
  • Antonino De Lorenzo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.613070
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Lack of specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19 has resulted in long hospitalizations and high mortality rate. By harnessing the regulatory effects of adenosine on inflammatory mediators, we have instituted a new therapeutic treatment with inhaled adenosine in COVID-19 patients, with the aim of reducing inflammation, the onset of cytokine storm, and therefore to improve prognosis. The use of inhaled adenosine in COVID19 patients has allowed reduction of length of stay, on average 6 days. This result is strengthened by the decrease in SARS-CoV-2 positive days. In treated patients compared to control, a clear improvement in PaO2/FiO2 was observed together with a reduction in inflammation parameters, such as the decrease of CRP level. Furthermore, the efficacy of inhaled exogenous adenosine led to an improvement of the prognosis indices, NLR and PLR. The treatment seems to be safe and modulates the immune system, allowing an effective response against the viral infection progression, reducing length of stay and inflammation parameters.

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