Current Potential Options for COVID-19 Treatment in Iraq- Kurdistan Region and the Rest of the World: A Mini-review

Aryan M.  Faraj; Syamand A.  Qadir; Othman A. Mohammed; Peshawa Y.  Aziz; Marwa Alkhafaji; Heshu S.  Rahman; Jeza M.   Abdul Aziz; Hemn H.   Othman; Adel  Mohan Adai AL-Zubaidy

doi:10.24996/ijs.2022.63.3.4

Authors

Aryan M. Faraj Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Technical College of Applied Science in Halabja, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7229-3717
Syamand A. Qadir Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Technical College of Applied Science in Halabja, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq
Othman A. Mohammed Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Technical College of Applied Science in Halabja, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq - Research Center, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq
Peshawa Y. Aziz epartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Technical College of Applied Science in Halabja, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq
Marwa Hameed Alkhafaji Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Republic of Iraq
Heshu S. Rahman Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq
Jeza M. Abdul Aziz Department of Medical Laboratory of Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Human Development, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq
Hemn H. Othman Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq
Adel Mohan Adai AL-Zubaidy Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Technical College of Applied Science in Halabja, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Republic of Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2022.63.3.4

Keywords:

COVID-19, pandemic infection, treatment strategy, Kurdistan region

Abstract

COVID-19 is an infectious pandemic disease which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Up to date, scientists are trying to identify a new specific antiviral drug to overcome this disease. Different methods are under study and evaluation in the entire world to control the virus, including blood plasma, blood purification, and antimicrobial and antiviral agents; however, there are no approved drugs yet. This review is focused on the conducted clinical trials worldwide, including the Iraq- Kurdistan region, China, USA, and Europe, to find relevant data on the agents with potential efficacy to treat the COVID-19 infection. The utmost commonly assessed therapies for this disease were chloroquine phosphate, hydroxyl-chloroquine, azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir, favipiravir, remdesivir, and alternatively, blood plasma, ivermectin in combination with doxycycline, and dexamethazone. This review suggests that blood plasma transfusion, the combination of hydroxyl-chloroquine with azithromycin, and remdesivir were the most abundant and efficient therapies. Thus, more light could be shed on these particular drugs on the road of drug investigation against COVID-19 pneumonia.