The use of corticosteroids to treat covid-19 has been controversial. Some studies has shown it benefits patients and others have shown it worsens the disease. A new study says that C Reactive Protein levels indicate when corticosteroid use is beneficial. High levels indicate they will help, while low levels indicate they will harm. The study says:
"The results of this study indicate that early treatment with glucocorticoids is not associated with mortality or need for MV [mechanical ventilation] in unselected patients with COVID-19. Subgroup analyses suggest that glucocorticoid-treated patients with markedly elevated CRP [C reactive protein] may benefit from glucocorticoid treatment, whereas those patients with lower CRP may be harmed. Our findings were consistent after adjustment for clinical characteristics. The public health implications of these findings are hard to overestimate. Given the global growth of the pandemic and that glucocorticoids are widely available and inexpensive, glucocorticoid therapy may save many thousands of lives. Equally important because we have been able to identify a group that may be harmed, some patients may be saved because glucocorticoids will not be given."
"The results of this study indicate that early treatment with glucocorticoids is not associated with mortality or need for MV [mechanical ventilation] in unselected patients with COVID-19. Subgroup analyses suggest that glucocorticoid-treated patients with markedly elevated CRP [C reactive protein] may benefit from glucocorticoid treatment, whereas those patients with lower CRP may be harmed. Our findings were consistent after adjustment for clinical characteristics. The public health implications of these findings are hard to overestimate. Given the global growth of the pandemic and that glucocorticoids are widely available and inexpensive, glucocorticoid therapy may save many thousands of lives. Equally important because we have been able to identify a group that may be harmed, some patients may be saved because glucocorticoids will not be given."
