Is a “cytokine storm” relevant to COVID-19?
P Sinha, MA Matthay, CS Calfee - JAMA internal medicine, 2020 - jamanetwork.com
In its most severe form, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the
virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leads to a life-threatening
pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The mortality rate from COVID-
19 ARDS can approach 40% to 50%. 1, 2 Although the mechanisms of COVID-19–induced
lung injury are still being elucidated, the term cytokine storm has become synonymous with
its pathophysiology, both in scientific publications and the media. Absent convincing data of …
virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leads to a life-threatening
pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The mortality rate from COVID-
19 ARDS can approach 40% to 50%. 1, 2 Although the mechanisms of COVID-19–induced
lung injury are still being elucidated, the term cytokine storm has become synonymous with
its pathophysiology, both in scientific publications and the media. Absent convincing data of …