IP Journal of Urology, Nephrology and Hepatology Science

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Management of COVID-19 using metformin: Repositioning against SARS-Cov-2

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Review Article

Author Details : Rajesh Kumar, Nita Bharti, Saurabh Kumar, Gian Prakash*, Gaurav Bhasker

Volume : 3, Issue : 3, Year : 2020

Article Page : 52-58

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Abstract

Metformin is an inexpensive, widely available, safe and well-tolerated drug used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Its broad spectrum of activities has encouraged researchers to allude its efficacy in treating COVID-19 infection in affected population. Its immunomodulatory effect, ability to reduce tumor necrosis factor-?, increase interleukin-6 and activation of AMP activated protein kinase are key aspects in protection against COVID-19 infection. Studies demonstrate that metformin may help treat deadly virus in the absence of a specific treatment or vaccine. It lowered the death rate of elderly patients with COVID-19, diabetes and obesity through decrease of weight and pneumonia. It has regenerative effect in lung fibrosis, thus benefiting the patients in acute, chronic as well as recovery phases of COVID-19 infection. However, more prospective studies are warranted to explore its precise mechanism and efficacy in diverse population. The current review provides an overview of cost-effective metformin’s role in treatment or prophylaxis of COVID-19 due to its anti-viral property.

Keywords: Inexpensive, Interleukin-6, Pneumonia, Tumor necrosis factor-?, Virus.

How to cite : Kumar R, Bharti N, Kumar S, Prakash G, Bhasker G, Management of COVID-19 using metformin: Repositioning against SARS-Cov-2. J Urol Nephrol Hepatol Sci 2020;3(3):52-58

Copyright © 2020 by author(s) and J Urol Nephrol Hepatol Sci. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org)