1/ A new hypothesis may explain why some patients slip into a fatal “second phase” of COVID-19 a week or so after hospitalization.
Dozens of studies have now revealed similar patterns of vascular damage in people who died of this novel virus.
Dozens of studies have now revealed similar patterns of vascular damage in people who died of this novel virus.
2/ The key is direct and indirect damage to the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels, particularly in the lungs, explains Peter Carmeliet, a vascular biologist at @VIBLifeSciences and co-author of a 21 May paper in @NatImmunol.
sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/b…
sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/b…
3/ "By attacking [endothelial] cells, COVID-19 infection causes vessels to leak and blood to clot.
Those changes in turn spark inflammation throughout the body and fuel the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) responsible for most patient deaths."
Those changes in turn spark inflammation throughout the body and fuel the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) responsible for most patient deaths."
4/ This mechanism could explain why the disease pummels some patients who have obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions:
The cells lining their blood vessels are already compromised.
The cells lining their blood vessels are already compromised.
5/ This suggests several existing drugs may dampen or even arrest the fatal second phase of the disease.
Evidence that inflammation and clotting play a role in COVID-19 has inspired dozens of trials in the US & Europe of anticlotting, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet drugs.
Evidence that inflammation and clotting play a role in COVID-19 has inspired dozens of trials in the US & Europe of anticlotting, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet drugs.
6/ One of these drugs is hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). It has been used to treat malaria patients since the 1950's, as well as certain auto-immune diseases.
My father has been using the drug safely to treat pregnant women with autoimmune diseases for years.
My father has been using the drug safely to treat pregnant women with autoimmune diseases for years.
7/ The drug has received a great deal of negative press in the media after Trump publicly declared that he was taking it and seemed to endorse its use.
nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/…
nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/…
8/ Subsequently, its efficacy was further called into question after a study by @TheLancet found decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias when used for treatment of COVID-19.
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
9/ However, this study's methods and data sources have now come into serious question.
sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/m…
sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/m…
10/ Considering that HCQ's properties & safety record have been scrutinized for decades and the drug is already approved by the FDA, why has there been so much controversy surrounding its use and the president's own remarks?
Could politics be a factor?
Could politics be a factor?
