Original Article | |
A Comparative Study of the Effects of Combination of Interferon-Gamma, and Vitamin C With Control Group (Kaletra) on the Recovery of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients and Cytokine Storm | |
Sepideh Hassanpour Khodaei1, Negin Hadisi2, Shahram Dabiri3, Mehdi Gharekhani3, Hanieh Salehi-Pourmehr4, Majid Shokoohi3, Shahla Meshgi5, Leila Roshangar2 | |
1Department of Dentistry, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Famagusta, North Cyprus Mersin 10, Turkey 2Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 3Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 4Research Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Iranian EBM Center: JBI Center of Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 5Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran |
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IJWHR 2025; 13: 072-079 DOI: 10.15296/ijwhr.2025.6053 Viewed : 58 times Downloaded : 25 times. Keywords : COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Interferon γ, Kaletra, Interleukin, TNF-α, Cytokine storm |
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Abstract | |
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major global challenge since late 2019, leading to numerous deaths worldwide, primarily through the formation of cytokine storms. This study aimed to investigate the use of an anti-interferon-gamma antibody that targets both immunomodulation and macrophage enhancement to increase phagocytosis of the virus, reduce recovery time, and minimize side effects of the disease. Materials and Methods: In an open-label, phase 2 trial, 60 patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 results were randomly divided into two groups. The Gamma-C group received three doses of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) 200 mcg/0.5 mL (2 million I.U. per 0.5 mL) on alternate days, and one dose of vitamin C (500 mg/5 mL) every 8 hours for 7 days. The control group was treated with a routine protocol that included Kaletra (lopinavir 200 mg and ritonavir 50 mg), two tablets every 12 hours, and vitamin C (500 mg/5 mL) every 8 hours. Results: The results showed a significantly reduced interleukin profile, rapid balancing of hematology and radiological results, no death outcomes, and a significantly shorter hospital stay compared with the control group. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of utilizing an anti-interferon-gamma antibody along with vitamin C supplementation as a treatment strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination therapy demonstrated significant benefits, including reduced cytokine profile, rapid improvement in hematological and radiological parameters, absence of fatalities, and shorter hospital stays. These findings suggest the potential effectiveness of this approach in mitigating the severity and improving outcomes in COVID-19 patients. |
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