A 2016 NIH article reviewed causes and treatments for cytokine storms, caused by H1N1 and H5N1 influenza. H1N1 and H5N1 caused severe disease and significant mortality, from cytokine storms. The article reported macrolides acted against pathogens, had anti-inflammatory effects, and improved mortality. Gamma globulin is used to boost immunity, in a variety of chronic diseases. Macrolides and immunoglobulins were found helpful in severely ill H1N1 and H5N1 patients, and reduced mortality.
For many years, Dr. Merchant used azithromax and gamma globulin for respiratory illnesses. He observed gamma globulin hastened recovery, and patients would even request gamma globulin based on their past experience. He treated patients with gamma globulin injections until it became unavailable, and medicine shifted toward using IV gamma globulin (which costs many thousands more).
It has now been reported severely ill and critical Covid-19 patients are suffering cytokine storms. The 2016 article offers insight as to why azithromax may help, and discusses other potential treatments (beneficial and not beneficial) for patients suffering cytokine storms. The 2016 article and Dr. Merchant’s experience suggest IV gamma globulin in severely ill patients, and gamma globulin injections early in the course of symptoms, may benefit Covid-19 patients.
The cytokine storm of severe influenza and development of immunomodulatory therapy, Zarogoulidis P, et al, Cell Mol Immunol. 2016 Jan; 13(1): 3–10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711683/
Macrolides: from in vitro anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties to clinical practice in respiratory diseases. Zarogoulidis P, et al., Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2012;68:479–503. doi: 10.1007/s00228-011-1161-x.
About the Author
