Abstract

Extensive immune response associated with inflammation is the primary reason for the pathological outcome of COVID-19 infection. Infliximab is an antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drug used to reduce inflammation through TNF-α inhibition. Inhibition of main inflammatory cytokine such as TNF-α may have a potential effect in COVID-19 treatment. Here, we report the clinical outcome of Infliximab treatment in a 65-year-old woman with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Infliximab therapy was started on day ninth; the patient demonstrated clinical improvement and recovery from COVID-19. Our findings\ suggest that the association of TNF-α inhibition and clinical management contributes to COVID-19 patient survival.
Introduction Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), also known as Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in February 2019 in Wuhan, China1. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, myalgia, sputum production, headache, diarrhea, anorexia, ARDS, arrhythmia, acute kidney damage, varying degrees of liver damage, and septic shock2,3. Antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), such as infliximab, are increasingly being used to treat rheumatologic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis4. Conversely, infliximab might also remit an aggravate immune response during COVID-19 infection, resulting in a potentially protective effect. The efficacy of infliximab in the COVID-19 treatment is unclear. In this study, we report a case of severe covid-19 who was treated with infliximab, leading to disease remission and discharge of a patient in good condition.