Investigating the Therapeutic Effect of β-Interferon and Methylprednisolone on COVID- ۱۹ Patients’Consequence: A Non- Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Study

Background and Objective: Due to the severe inflammatory conditions and cytokine storm in COVID-۱۹ 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 β-interferon and methylprednisolone in patients with COVID-۱۹. Materials and Methods: ۵۷ patients infected with SARS coronavirus ۲ underwent treatment. Laboratory parameters, hospitalization duration, and clinical outcomes in these patients were studied. Results: Statistical analysis showed no correlation between combination therapy with the hospitalization duration (P=۰.۲۲) and mortality (P=۰.۴۸). 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=۰.۰۰۰۱). At the end of the study, the levels of neutrophils (P=۰.۰۰۱) and lymphocytes (P- value=۰.۰۰۰۱) in the blood in the interferon group showed a significant change. Conclusion: This study showed no effect of adding methylprednisolone and interferon beta to the treatment protocol on mortality in the patients.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Methylprednisolone , Interferon-beta , SARS-CoV-۲