Volume 10, Issue 4, October 2020

The Status of Surfactant as a Treatment Option for COVID19 (Review Article)

Author(s): Annapurna Kolupoti and Ananya Chakraborty
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS COV 2 virus) is known to cause coronavirus disease from December 2019 (COVID19). There is no approved treatment for the disease. The main standard of care is identification, isolation, contact tracing and observation. The main predominat organ affected is the lung. The main crucial factor in COVID 19 infection is binding of spike protein (S protein) of coronavirus to Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Type 2 (ACE2 receptor). ACE2 receptors are present in many cell types and tissues of the body including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract. In the lungs, these are located on Type 2 pneumocytes. Type 2 pneumocytes are involved in the production of surfactant. Surfactant helps in lowering the surface tension in the lung and prevent it from collapse. Destruction of Type 2 pneumocytes in the lung in COVID19 is presumed to cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), ARDs is characterized by presence of alveolar damage with serous and fibrin exudation, presence of hyaline membrane, presence of inflammatory infiltrate with predominant presence of monocytes and macrophages and alveolar thickening. Few clinical trials are ongoing in various stages to evaluate the use of surfactant therapy in COVID19 infection. This review article is on the current status of surfactants in the management of COVID-19 based on published literature obtained from PUBMED and studies from ClinicalTrials.gov listing.
PAGES: 106-112  |  21 VIEWS  35 DOWNLOADS

How To Cite this Article:

Annapurna Kolupoti and Ananya Chakraborty. The Status of Surfactant as a Treatment Option for COVID19 (Review Article). 2020; 10(4): 106-112.