UAB To Test Nitric Oxide For Severe Coronavirus Patients

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham has been selected to begin enrolling patients in an international study assessing the use of inhaled nitric oxide to improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients with severely damaged lungs.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome, a severe form of lung failure, is the leading cause of death in COVID-19. Nitric oxide has been used for the treatment of failing lungs, but it was also found to have antiviral properties against coronaviruses, according to UAB officials.

The antiviral effect of nitric oxide was tested and demonstrated during the 2002-2003 SARS pandemic, which was caused by a similar coronavirus called the SARS-CoV virus.

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With the start of this trial, any COVID-19 patient who is admitted to UAB’s ICU and is breathing with the assistance of a ventilator may potentially qualify for the study.

"This trial will allow the sickest COVID-19 patients at UAB access to a rescue therapy that may have antiviral benefits in addition to improving the status of lungs," said Dr. Vibhu Parcha, a research fellow with UAB’s Division of Cardiovascular Disease.

Dr. Pankaj Arora, assistant professor in the division, is spearheading UAB’s efforts in providing this treatment option to eligible COVID-19 patients.

"In humans, nitric oxide is generated within the blood vessels and regulates blood pressure, and prevents formation of clots and also destroys potential toxins," Arora said.

The UAB team said the coronavirus pandemic has led to an extraordinary unifying response by the medical community, including ICU physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, clinical trial specialists, reviewers and medical administrators, allowing for faster than normal approvals for potentially lifesaving research studies.

"The fact that we are able to get this trial started quickly was due to collaborations across specialties and fields of expertise at UAB with the common goal of providing the highest quality of scientifically proven care for our COVID-19 patients," Arora said. "We are all trying to fight this together, and I hope, with our resilience, we shall overcome these difficult times."

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This article originally appeared on the Birmingham Patch