Abstract

Introduction: To retrospectively compare the clinical and laboratory results of two different dexamethasone treatment protocols used in ARDS patients followed with COVID-19 in intensive care unit.

Materials and Methods: Patients who started dexamethasone treatment in Pandemic Intensive Care Units were divided into two groups. Group 1: 6 mg/day (n=41), Group 2: 0-5 days 20 mg/day and 6-10 days 10 mg/day (n=39). Clinical results and changes in laboratory values between groups from day 0 to day 10 were compared.

Results: Day 0 APACHE II scores were significantly higher in patients who received 20 mg (p: 0.039). When the parameter changes on days 0 and 10 after 10 days of dexamethasone treatment in the intensive care unit were analysed, it was determined that procalcitonin and D-Dimer values showed a statistically significant increase in the 20 mg group (p: 0.038 and p: 0.025, respectively). Finally, the effect of dexamethasone treatment on mortality was analysed and no difference was found between the groups.

Discussion and Conclusion: Mortality comparisons have been made in the literature regarding dexamethasone treatment in ARDS patients in COVID-19 intensive care units. We compared mortality and laboratory parameters. In conclusion; dexamethasone treatment improves clinical and laboratory parameters, but in terms of benefit / harm ratio and side effects; we think that 6 mg can be used safely in cases requiring oxygen therapy in viral respiratory tract infections and 20 mg in severe cases where hyperinflammation is at the forefront.

Keywords: anesthesiology and reanimation, intensive care, COVID, ARDS, dexamethasone

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Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite?

1.
Yaman M, Tokur ME, Balcı C. Retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of two different dexamethasone doses on hyperinflammation in ARDS patients followed in COVID-19 intensive care unit. Turk J Intensive Care. 2025;23(2):104-117. https://doi.org/10.63729/TJIC.2025.642