TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of ivermectin in the treatment of Covid-19
T2 - A pilot trial
AU - Pott-Junior, Henrique
AU - Bastos Paoliello, Mônica Maria
AU - Miguel, Alice de Queiroz Constantino
AU - da Cunha, Anderson Ferreira
AU - de Melo Freire, Caio Cesar
AU - Neves, Fábio Fernandes
AU - da Silva de Avó, Lucimar Retto
AU - Roscani, Meliza Goi
AU - dos Santos, Sigrid De Sousa
AU - Chachá, Silvana Gama Florêncio
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Michael Aschner for reviewing the manuscript. Access to data: All authors had full access to all of the data in the study and can take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. H Pott-Junior is the guarantor. The dataset is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - Objectives: In this randomized open-label trial pilot study we assessed the antiviral effects and safety of various doses of ivermectin in patients with mild clinical symptoms of COVID-19. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard of care (SOC) treatment at hospital admission; SOC plus ivermectin 100 mcg/kg; SOC plus ivermectin 200 mcg/kg; or SOC plus ivermectin 400 mcg/kg. The primary assessed endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved two consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR tests within 7 days of the start of the dosing period. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04431466). Results: A total of 32 patients were enrolled and randomized to treatment. SOC treatment together with ivermectin did not result in any serious adverse events. All patients exhibited a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load within 7 days; however, those who received ivermectin had a more consistent decrease as compared to the SOC alone group, characterized by a shorter time for obtaining two consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR tests. Conclusions: Ivermectin is safe in patients with SARS-CoV-2, reducing symptomatology and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load. This antiviral effect appears to depend on the dose used, and if confirmed in future studies, it suggests that ivermectin may be a useful adjuvant to the SOC treatment in patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms.
AB - Objectives: In this randomized open-label trial pilot study we assessed the antiviral effects and safety of various doses of ivermectin in patients with mild clinical symptoms of COVID-19. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard of care (SOC) treatment at hospital admission; SOC plus ivermectin 100 mcg/kg; SOC plus ivermectin 200 mcg/kg; or SOC plus ivermectin 400 mcg/kg. The primary assessed endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved two consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR tests within 7 days of the start of the dosing period. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04431466). Results: A total of 32 patients were enrolled and randomized to treatment. SOC treatment together with ivermectin did not result in any serious adverse events. All patients exhibited a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load within 7 days; however, those who received ivermectin had a more consistent decrease as compared to the SOC alone group, characterized by a shorter time for obtaining two consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR tests. Conclusions: Ivermectin is safe in patients with SARS-CoV-2, reducing symptomatology and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load. This antiviral effect appears to depend on the dose used, and if confirmed in future studies, it suggests that ivermectin may be a useful adjuvant to the SOC treatment in patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Ivermectin
KW - SARS-CoV-2
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U2 - 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.03.003
DO - 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.03.003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102307032
SN - 2214-7500
VL - 8
SP - 505
EP - 510
JO - Toxicology Reports
JF - Toxicology Reports
ER -