A clinical investigation spearheaded by Richard S. Hotchkiss, MD, an educator in anesthesiology at WashU Medicine, has discovered that administering an immune-enhancing protein to critically unwell COVID-19 patients mitigates life-threatening secondary infections, a leading contributor to mortality in this group. The protein in question is a cytokine known as interleukin-7 (IL-7), which is naturally generated by the body. The research underscores the promising potential of IL-7 therapy to enhance outcomes for immunosuppressed COVID-19 patients.

For further details regarding the research published on February 2 in JCI Insight, please visit the Department of Anesthesiology website.

The article Immune booster reduces secondary infections in COVID-19 patients was originally published on The Source.