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What is the question addressed by this trial?

The severe forms of Covid-19 seem to be characterized by an "inflammatory cytokine storm", a kind of over-response of the body to replication of the virus, which may contribute to the worsening of viral pneumonia. The CORTICOVID trial tests the hypothesis that oral corticosteroid therapy, with a moderate but early dosage (from D7 ± 2 days of symptoms), could reduce the risk of progression to a severe form.

What is the target population?

People who have a Covid-19 viral pneumonia, justifying a hospitalization, having impairment of oxygenation (SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air), but not an ARDS, and seen before D10 of the symptoms, to act before the cytokine storm .

Isn't this a problem for testing antiviral strategies?

No, because the two strategies (antiviral, anti-inflammatory) are complementary. The Discovery test, for example, includes patients within 72 hours of the RT-PCR test, so before we consider CORTICOVID. Antiviral treatments do not prohibit inclusion in CORTICOVID if they are started before randomization.

This trial is under the supervision of Pr Vincent Cottin and Pr Jean-François Mornex, Pulmonary department, centre hospitalier Est, HCL, Lyon