Aerosolized Dornase Alfa (DNase I) for the Treatment of Severe Respiratory Failure in COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Inhaled dornase alfa was tested for efficacy in treating severe respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients with hypoxia.
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The study randomized 76 hospitalized patients to receive either dornase alfa or a placebo alongside standard care.
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Primary outcomes showed no significant difference in clinical response rates between the dornase alfa and placebo groups.
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Secondary outcomes, including mortality and length of hospital stay, were similar across both treatment groups.
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The trial was halted due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, indicating the need for further research on dornase alfa.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

by Per Åkesson, Lisa Mellhammar, Magnus Rasmussen, Malin Inghammar, Sara Jesperson, Fredrik Månsson, Elin Economou Lundeberg, John Walles, Martin Wallberg, Attila Frigyesi, Adam Linder
April 24, 2025

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