Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Its Neuroinvasive Capacity: Is It Time for Melatonin?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the potential therapeutic use of high-dose melatonin in modulating immune response and neuroinflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients.
Results Summary
The study suggests melatonin may favorably modulate immune response and neuroinflammation in COVID-19 patients, but clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy in prevention and clinical management.
Population
COVID-19 patients with potential central nervous system involvement.
Effective Dosage
High doses (specific amount not provided).
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high doses of melatonin | decrease | immune response and neuroinflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 | COVID-19 patients with underlying diseases | - | may favorably modulate | #1 |
The world faces an exceptional new public health concern caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), subsequently termed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although the clinical symptoms mostly have been characterized, the scientific community still doesn´t know how SARS-CoV-2 successfully reaches and spreads throughout the central nervous system (CNS) inducing brain damage. The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in frontal lobe sections from postmortem examination has confirmed the presence of the virus in neural tissue. This finding reveals a new direction in the search for a neurotherapeutic strategy in the COVID-19 patients with underlying diseases. Here, we discuss the COVID-19 outbreak in a neuroinvasiveness context and suggest the therapeutic use of high doses of melatonin, which may favorably modulate the immune response and neuroinflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2. However, clinical trials elucidating the efficacy of melatonin in the prevention and clinical management in the COVID-19 patients should be actively encouraged.