Role of antifibrotic drugs in the management of post-COVID-19 interstitial lung disease: A review of literature and report from an expert working group

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID 19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome?virus 2 (SARS CoV 2), is a multisystem disease, but the lungs are the primary target of infection and injury. Pulmonary parenchymal involvement represents the most common cause of hospitalization for COVID?19 and may be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), refractory respiratory failure, and death.[1] Since the onset of the pandemic, concerns were raised regarding the possible chronic pulmonary consequences of COVID?19.[2,3] There is now a growing body of evidence to suggest that a substantial proportion of COVID?19 survivors, especially those who had moderate?to?severe disease, may have persistent physiologic impairments of the lung with accompanying radiologic findings even several months after recovery.[4?8]