Sex Hormones in SARS-CoV-2 Susceptibility: Key Players or Confounders?
December 2022
in “
Nature Reviews Endocrinology
”
TLDR Sex hormones' effects on COVID-19 are unclear and more research is needed to understand their potential as treatment.
The review article "Sex hormones in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility: key players or confounders?" explores the role of sex hormones, including androgens, oestrogens, and progesterone, in the regulation of virus entry receptors and the progression of COVID-19. The article indicates that there is no definitive evidence that sex-specific expression of virus entry receptors contributes to the observed sex disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. The effects of these hormones on the course of COVID-19 have yielded inconsistent results, and current data do not support the use of oestradiol or deprivation of androgens in COVID-19 treatment. The authors conclude that more research is needed to clarify the potential therapeutic value of these hormones in COVID-19.