The American journal of the medical sciences
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The potentially lethal infection caused by the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Disease Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved into a global crisis. Following the initial viral infection is the host inflammatory response that frequently results in excessive secretion of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6 and TNFα), developing into a self-targeting, toxic "cytokine storm" causing critical pulmonary tissue damage. ⋯ Inhaled furosemide, a small molecule capable of inhibiting IL-6 and TNFα, may be an agent capable of treating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 cytokine storm in both resource-rich and developing countries. Furosemide is a "repurpose-able" small molecule therapeutics, that is safe, easily synthesized, handled, and stored, and is available in reasonable quantities worldwide.
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Sex and age may affect the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease, such as cardiovascular risk factors, treatment and prognosis, but this information is not well known. ⋯ Women had higher cholesterol levels, and were less likely to undergo revascularization therapy than similarly aged men, and elderly women had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease than elderly men. In-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events were lower in women than in men; however, there was no sex difference in the in-hospital cardiac mortality.