Treatment and Prevention of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) on COVID-19 Infection

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) on Patients With COVID-19 Infection: A Perspective, Open-labeled, Randomized, Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to test whether Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) are effective and safe for treating COVID-19 infection. After the enrolment of approximately 30 subjects, the recruitment will be paused, and planned interim analysis will be performed to preliminarily investigate the efficacy and safety of TCMs in patients infected with COVID-19.

In December 2019, a cluster of patients with pneumonia in Wuhan, China, was caused by a novel betacoronavirus, which named the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It was frequently reported that COVID-19 could be a public health crisis with high infectiousness, and it naturally spread across the country. Most of patients with COVID-19 infection were found to have non-specific symptoms including fever, cough, myalgia and fatigue. In addition, some patients were more likely to develop severe respiratory illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), or even die. However, there was no timely and effective treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), are derived from plants and usually incorporate one or more herbs as the basic drug(s) to treat the disease. An RCT was performed to investigate TCM was effective and safe for treating COVID-19 infection. Eligible subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio, and 1 subject on conventional medicines and TCMs granules for every 1 subject on conventional medicines. According to recommendations for prevention and control of pneumonia cause by COVID-19 infection from China National Health Commission, conventional medicines involve oxygen therapy and antiviral therapy (alfa interferon via aerosol inhalation, and lopinavir/ritonavir, p.o). Additionally, planned interim analysis will be performed, because the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection might affect estimated enrollment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed COVID-19 infection case in term of laboratory evidence;
• 80 years ≥ age ≥ 14years;
• Within 72 hours after the onset of abnormalities shown by Chest radiology or several symptoms (fever and cough).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 14 years or > 80 years;
• Pregnant or lactating female;
• One of the following items occurred at the enrollment: (i) respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation; (ii) liver failure: total bilirubin ≥ 10mg/dL and/or severe coagulation disorders; (iii) renal function failure: although adequate circulating blood and cardiac output, urine ≤ 0.5ml/kg·h, Cr or BUN ≥ 1.5 times normal elevation;
• Intake of Chinese medicinal herbs during the past 2 weeks;
• Refused to sign an informed consent form prior to study participation;
• Unwilling and unable to comply with protocol request.