COVID 19 associated sinus bradycardia effectively treated by Theophylline

Theophylline is popularly used to treat most of breathing disorders like wheezing, shortness of breath etc, Covid-19 is known to cause the same in patients, its efficacy has been evaluated ever since. However breathing disorders with Covid-19 greatly affect quality of life.

The findings, published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI) showed that sinus bradycardia due to COVID-19 is usually transient and responds well to this drug. A short course of oral etophylline and theophylline prolonged-release tablet (150 mg) could be used for treating sinus bradycardia due to COVID-19 in the future, the study suggested.

The drug was safer than other modalities for the treatment of sinus node dysfunction associated with COVID-19. However, researchers feel the need for strict monitoring and larger studies to assess the benefit-risk balance of the addition of this drug.

"COVID-19 virus directly involves the myocardium by entering the cardiac myocytes resulting in inflammation and injury," wrote the authors. "As the sinus bradycardia due to COVID-19 is usually transient and responds well to this drug, a short course of the drug could be added to treat this arrhythmia in future."

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Theophylline, potential drug for treating COVID-19 associated sinus bradycardia: Study