TREATMENT Update: New data indicates remdesivir is genuinely promising for the treatment of severe #coronavirus infection. It’s not yet approved for use anywhere so Gilead has been releasing it via compassionate use. It has already saved lives, but there’s been a sticking point:
Remdesivir causes brief liver inflammation so doctors have been instructed not to use it in patients with mild liver issues. The problem: coronavirus commonly causes liver dysfunction (called viral hepatitis). Many were disqualified from receiving remdesivir due to liver tests.
The calculus has just changed; we now believe remdesivir is good enough to use in certain critically-ill patients with liver dysfunction. Formal guidance will soon change & will greatly expand the number of patients who can receive this potentially life-saving drug. Great news!
