How the immune system reacts to COVID-19 is the focus of a new study by London-based researchers.
The scientists at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University are trying to verify whether the virus actually produces a heightened immune response in select patients, as early scientific reports from doctors have indicated.
“Some researchers are suggesting that mortality could be improved with immunosuppressive therapies, however, evidence to support this is severely lacking at this time,” Lead Researcher Dr. Douglas Fraser said in a statement.
As part of the study, daily blood samples are being taken from patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) who are believed to have coronavirus. Those samples are then tested for inflammatory biomarkers which over time would show any change to the immune response. That data will then be compared to healthy individuals and patients with other viruses.
"If a hyperinflammatory response is found to contribute to greater adverse outcomes from COVID-19, there are current therapies available to help these cases," said Fraser. "This study could also inform why some people become critically ill and others do not, and help determine who will respond to certain therapies."
The new respiratory virus was first identified in Wuhan, China late last year. Since then, there have been 510,000 confirmed cases and 22,000 recorded deaths worldwide. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 12.