Use of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma and COVID-19 : Keep calm and carry on

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are used as anti-inflammatory controller therapy given either alone or combination with long acting bronchodilators for persistent asthma . The present COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably focussed attention as to whether ICS might predispose to SARS-CoV-2 infection , especially in older ,male, obese, smokers with comorbidities including chronic lung disease who are prone to more severe COVID-19 infection and worse outcomes. In the later stage of COVID-19 infection there is an acute inflammatory cytokine cascade including interleukin 1-beta (IL1- β) , interleukin-6 (IL6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).
Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Perspective Source Type: research