The World Health Organization (WHO) is going to update its guidelines for treating people with COVID-19 after hopeful results from a clinical trial of the drug dexamethasone.
The UK study found that this inexpensive and long-available anti-inflammatory can save critically ill patients. The WHO praised the results of the clinical trial as “great news”.
Research results published Tuesday showed that dexamethasone reduces mortality by about a third in the illest COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital.
It has been used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in diseases such as arthritis.
WHO clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients infected with the new coronavirus are aimed at physicians and other medical professionals.
The latest data is used to inform clinicians about the best approach for all stages of the disease.