Investigating the Therapeutic Effect of β-Interferon and Methylprednisolone on COVID- 19 Patients’Consequence: A Non- Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Study

Abstract

Background & Objective: Due to the severe inflammatory conditions and cytokine storm in COVID-19 disease, corticosteroids are used worldwide as adjunctive therapy for these patients due to their anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to limited and inconsistent information about the effectiveness of this drug, this study aimed to investigate the benefit of combined use of beta-interferon and methylprednisolone in patients with COVID-19. Material(s) and Method(s): 57 patients infected with SARS coronavirus 2 underwent treatment. Laboratory parameters, hospitalization duration, and clinical outcomes in these patients were studied. Result(s): Statistical analysis showed no correlation between combination therapy with the hospitalization duration (P=0.22) and mortality (P=0.48). Also, the findings of this study showed that the ESR level in patients receiving combination therapy with methylprednisolone and interferon beta decreased significantly at the end of the intervention (P=0.0001). At the end of the study, the levels of neutrophils (P=0.001) and lymphocytes (P-value=0.0001) in the blood in the interferon group showed a significant change. Conclusion(s): This study showed no effect of adding methylprednisolone and interferon beta to the treatment protocol on mortality in the patients. Copyright © 2022, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. All rights reserved.