Are Sex Discordant Outcomes in COVID-19 Related to Sex Hormones?
October 2020
in “
Seminars in Oncology
”
TLDR Sex hormones may affect COVID-19 severity, with men often faring worse, and targeting related pathways could offer treatment options.
The document from October 2020 examines the sex differences in COVID-19 outcomes, noting that men generally experience more severe disease and higher mortality rates than women. It suggests that sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, may influence these disparities due to their effects on the immune system and the regulation of the protease TMPRSS2, which facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. The document reports on clinical trials investigating the role of sex hormone pathways and TMPRSS2 in COVID-19 severity, with some trials testing TMPRSS2 inhibitors and others focusing on the effects of sex hormones and related drugs. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors behind varying disease severities and the potential of targeting genes and pathways related to viral replication for antiviral treatments. The document also mentions a study where the drug abiraterone reduced viral load by about 70%, highlighting it as a possible treatment option. The authors call for collaboration and data collection to address sex disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.
