A recent study from the Netherlands has shown that patients with severe COVID-19-associated cytokine storm syndrome (CSS)  with high dose steroids and tocilizumab had a faster recovery, less need for invasive mechanical ventilation and fewer deaths when compared to CSS patients receiving supportive care only.

They studed COVID-19 patients with CSS, defined as rapid respiratory deterioration plus at least two of the following biomarkers: a) C-reactive protein >100mg/L; b) ferritin >900 µg/L; or c) D-dimer >1500 µg/L.

The IMMerge trial has demonstrated the superiority of interleukin (IL)‐23 over IL-17A inhibition adults with plaque psoriasis.

Inflammatory events following infection with SARS-CoV-2 can often worsen the morbid or mortal outcomes with COVID, yet it has been unclear if glucocorticoids may modulate inflammation-mediated damage and lung injury.  The RECOVERY trial reports that dexamethasone (DEX) use lowered 28-day mortality among COVID-19 patients requiring respiratory support.

The RECOVERY trial was performed in the UK and enrolled hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were randomly assigned patients to usual care alone or the addition of oral or intravenous dexamethasone (at a dose of 6 mg once daily) for up to 10 days. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. 

Pain management in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is confounded by studies showing less is equal to usual standards of care. A recent trial showed that meloxicam was superior to placebo or cognitive behavioral therap (CBT); although the differences were small. 

From January 1, 2020–May 18, 2020, approximately 1.3 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 83,000 COVID-19–associated deaths were reported in the United States.