GM-CSF targeting in COVID-19: an approach based on fragile foundations. Issue 2 (2nd February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kohler, Katharina; Conway Morris, Andrew
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 61:Issue 2(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02-02
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02091-2022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) arises as a result of a pathological inflammatory response following infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Although the majority of people infected with this virus will experience minimal or mild symptoms, a proportion will go on to develop more severe disease requiring hospitalisation and oxygen therapy. The most severe forms produce acute respiratory failure, necessitating mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The advent of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has substantially altered the risk profile of COVID-19, with marked reductions in the severity of illness and hospitalisation. However, for unvaccinated patients and those who do not mount an effective immune response to vaccination, it remains a potentially lethal infection. Trials of anti-GM-CSF therapies in COVID-19 show divergent results; this may be explained by underlying biology and the fragility of the study findings. Further investigation of the pathophysiology of COVID-19 is required to better target therapies. http://bit.ly/3O1AuIo