This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On June 16, 2020, scientists in Britain made a groundbreaking announcement: they had found the first drug to reduce deaths among critically ill Covid-19 patients. The breakthrough came after a clinical trial involving 6,425 patients in Britain, where one-third were randomly assigned to receive the drug, dexamethasone, while the others received standard care.
According to the study, dexamethasone was beneficial for patients who had been sick for more than a week, reducing deaths by one-third among patients on mechanical ventilators and by one-fifth among patients receiving supplemental oxygen by other means.
However, the study also revealed a concerning trend: patients given the steroid who were not receiving respiratory support actually died at a slightly higher rate than similar patients who were not given the drug.
Experts warn that the drug may be risky for patients with mild cases, as it can dampen the body's protective immune response. Dr. Martin J. Landray, the study's senior author, explained that the immune system can cause harm in the later stages of the disease, and that steroids like dexamethasone can help by reducing inflammation.
But Dr. Landray also cautioned that the drug should not be used to treat mild illness or as a preventive measure. 'It would likely be harmful to take dexamethasone as an outpatient treatment for Covid-19,' he said.
Other experts agree, noting that the study raises more questions than answers, including the long-term outcomes and neurological damage associated with the drug.
