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©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Strengthening pharmacotherapy research for COVID-19-induced pulmonary fibrosis
Yan-Miao Liu, Jing Zhang, Jing-Jing Wu, Wei-Wei Guo, Fu-Shan Tang
Yan-Miao Liu, The First Clinical Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China
Yan-Miao Liu, Jing-Jing Wu, Wei-Wei Guo, Fu-Shan Tang, Key Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy in Zunyi City, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China
Jing Zhang, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Central Hospital in Jinchang City, Jinchang 737102, Gansu Province, China
Jing-Jing Wu, Wei-Wei Guo, Fu-Shan Tang, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Guizhou Province and School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China
Jing-Jing Wu, Wei-Wei Guo, Fu-Shan Tang, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China
Author contributions: Liu YM contributed to the manuscript outline and composed the paper; Wu JJ and Guo WW were responsible for sourcing and organizing relevant literature, as well as discussing the importance of the pharmacotherapy research; Zhang J and Tang FS originated the concept for this manuscript; Tang FS provided supervision, reviewed the paper, and finalized the manuscript; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by the Project of Special Funds for Science and Technology Cooperation in Guizhou Provinces and Zunyi City, No. Shengshikehe(2015)53.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors have nothing to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See:
https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Corresponding author: Fu-Shan Tang, PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Guizhou Province and School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6 Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China. fstang@vip.163.com
Received: December 7, 2023
Peer-review started: December 7, 2023
First decision: December 17, 2023
Revised: December 26, 2023
Accepted: January 15, 2024
Article in press: January 15, 2024
Published online: February 16, 2024
Processing time: 54 Days and 16 Hours
The global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in a significant number of individuals developing pulmonary fibrosis (PF), an irreversible lung injury. This condition can manifest within a short interval following the onset of pneumonia symptoms, sometimes even within a few days. While lung transplantation is a potentially lifesaving procedure, its limited availability, high costs, intricate surgeries, and risk of immunological rejection present significant drawbacks. The optimal timing of medication administration for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced PF remains controversial. Despite this, it is crucial to explore pharmacotherapy interventions, involving early and preventative treatment as well as pharmacotherapy options for advanced-stage PF. Additionally, studies have demonstrated disparities in anti-fibrotic treatment based on race and gender factors. Genetic mutations may also impact therapeutic efficacy. Enhancing research efforts on pharmacotherapy interventions, while considering relevant pharmacological factors and optimizing the timing and dosage of medication administration, will lead to enhanced, personalized, and fair treatment for individuals impacted by COVID-19-related PF. These measures are crucial in lessening the burden of the disease on healthcare systems and improving patients' quality of life.
Core Tip: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) induced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a significant and serious complication of the disease. When PF advances to a critical stage, lung transplantation becomes the sole life-saving option. Our call is for an intensified focus on researching pharmacotherapy interventions for COVID-19-induced PF, aimed at identifying potential medication options.
