Cytokine Storm in Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the latest global issue which has threatened the medical fraternity since its earliest reports on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has had a negative impact on global healthcare systems disturbing every aspect of normal human life. COVID-19 infection is distinguished by scope of various epidemiological and pathological features, including high cytokine levels in the blood, leading to an uncontrolled abnormalityresponse known as “cytokine storm”. Accumulating evidence from various clinical trials and studies suggest that this cytokine storm is related with increased intensity of COVID‐19 leading to mortality. It is essential to urgently establish the immunopathogenesis of the COVID-19 cytokine storm in the search of proper therapy of COVID disease.In this review article we have discussed the presentcomprehension of the attributes of COVID-19 and the clinical features, immunopathological mechanisms, and management of the COVID‐19 induced cytokine storm, especially in severe cases. Various clinical trials in COVID-19 infected patientshas shown a strong evidence between cytokine production upregulation in severe and critical COVID-19 infected patients and mortality. Considering that the majority of cases of respiratory system and multiorgan failure are caused due to the continuous massive cytokine release, implementation of therapeutics that attenuate this overregulated inflammatory response can perhaps be a possible treatment for severe COVID-19 patients. Thus therapeutic methods for cytokine storm treatment in the pathology of severe COVID-19 infection warrant special attention. We have discussed the immunopathogenesis of severe COVID-19 infection and the induced cytokine storm and its. In addition, we explored treatment approaches to reverse overactive inflammation in severe COVID-19 infected patients.