Liver drug may prevent and lower severity of COVID 19 infection
Researchers have found in a new study that Liver drug ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may prevent and lower severity of COVID 19 infection.Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits the farnesoid X receptor and may decrease SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce the severity of COVID-19.
The researchers found that in participants with cirrhosis, UDCA exposure was associated with both a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 infection, and reduction in symptomatic, at least moderate, and severe/critical COVID-19.
The new research has been published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
The objective of the study was to compare the association between UDCA exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as varying severities of COVID-19, in a large national cohort of participants with cirrhosis.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attaches to a cellular receptor called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and activation of the farnesoid X receptor increases ACE2 expression. suggests that a drug that inhibits the farnesoid X receptor and is used to treat liver disease may decrease SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce the severity of COVID-19.
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