Efficacy of pulse steroid therapy in patients critically ill with COVID-19
Date
2021Metadata
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Gundogdu O, Demir B, Coskun FO, Ersan I Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, State Hospital, Sivas, TurkeyAbstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effi cacy of pulse steroid therapy administered to
patients critically ill with COVID-19 progressing into severe pneumonia.
METHODS: A total of 600 patients included in this retrospective study were divided into three groups. Group
1 (control group): 200 patients who did not receive steroid treatment, Group 2: 200 patients who received
dexamethasone 1x8 milligram (mg) or methylprednisolone 1x80 mg, Group 3: (pulse steroid therapy group):
200 patients who received 1 g methylprednisolone followed by 1x80 mg methylprednisolone. Demographic
and laboratory data were recorded.
RESULTS: Mortality rates in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 77 %, 53.55 %, and 58.5 %, respectively. The ratios of
intubated patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 70 %, 45.5 % and 56 %, respectively. The numbers of patients
whose D-dimer values were above 2,250 ng/mL (cut-off value for D-dimer in this study) in groups 2, 1 and 3
were 65, 107, and 105, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Pulse steroid therapy does not shorten the duration of hospital stay, does not reduce the
need for intubation and increases the risk of thrombosis by signifi cantly increasing the level of D-dimer
among patients critically and severely ill with COVID-19