• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

J Int Med Res . A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of immunomodulators in the treatment of severe COVID-19

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
J Int Med Res


. 2025 Mar;53(3):3000605251317462.
doi: 10.1177/03000605251317462. Epub 2025 Mar 13. A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of immunomodulators in the treatment of severe COVID-19

Xuegui Ju[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiayao Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Haonan Huang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Yidan Qing[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bhushan Sandeep[SUP] 3 [/SUP]



Affiliations
Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of immunomodulators in the treatment of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsA literature search for the meta-analysis was performed using PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Wanfang Data, CNKI, and Web of Science to identify randomized controlled trials assessing the outcomes of patients treated with corticosteroids alone and/or interleukin-6 receptor antagonists for COVID-19. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane method. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (registry number: CRD42022356904).ResultsCompared with patients receiving standard of care, patients treated with corticosteroids alone had an increased risk of 14-day in-hospital death, whereas those treated with interleukin-6 receptor antagonists alone or in combination with corticosteroids had a lower risk of 14-day in-hospital death. Corticosteroid therapy alone was associated with increased risk of several adverse events, including intensive care unit admission and non-invasive ventilation, whereas interleukin-6 receptor antagonists alone or in combination with corticosteroids were not linked to adverse effects.ConclusionsThe findings supported the safety and efficacy of interleukin-6 receptor antagonists, either alone or together with corticosteroids, in patients with severe COVID-19; evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids monotherapy is lacking.

Keywords: COVID-19; Immunomodulator; adverse event; glucocorticoid; interleukin-6 receptor antagonist; network meta-analysis.

 
Back
Top Bottom