The COVID-19 Cytokine Storm; What We Know So Far
COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading global threat that has been declared as a pandemic by the WHO. COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets or direct contact and infects the respiratory tract resulting in pneumonia in most of the cases and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in about 15 % of the case...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-06-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01446/full |
Summary: | COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading global threat that has been declared as a pandemic by the WHO. COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets or direct contact and infects the respiratory tract resulting in pneumonia in most of the cases and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in about 15 % of the cases. Mortality in COVID-19 patients has been linked to the presence of the so-called “cytokine storm” induced by the virus. Excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines leads to ARDS aggravation and widespread tissue damage resulting in multi-organ failure and death. Targeting cytokines during the management of COVID-19 patients could improve survival rates and reduce mortality. |
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ISSN: | 1664-3224 |