Potential Role Of Anti-Complement Agents In The Treatment Of Covid-19-Related Ards

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths with fatality figures continuing to rise. Lung injury has been the leading cause of mortality with nearly 90% of deaths resulting from ARDS. This condition is a serious immunological complication, characterised by widespread lung inflammation causing severe hypoxaemia, refractory to oxygen treatment. To date, no pharmacological treatment has been approved for the management of ARDS. So far, mechanical ventilation with the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been the standard of care.1