Table 1 An overview of clinical trials: corticosteroids as potential treatment of COVID-19

RECOVERY (NCT04381936)/Low dose, Dexamethasone

Suspected or confirmed COVID-19

6 mg PO/IV daily × 10 days

Remarkable result on critically ill patients. No effect on mortality in less severe cases of COVID-19

[23, 24]

CoDEX (NCT04327401)/ High Dose, Dexamethasone

COVID-19 moderate or severe ARDS

20 mg IV daily × 5 days, then 10 mg IV daily × 5 days or until ICU

Increased efficacy and not showed significant adverse effect from the treatment

[25, 26]

DEXA-COVID19 (NCT04325061)/High Dose, Dexamethasone

Mechanically ventilated, moderate-severe ARDS, confirmed COVID-19

20 mg IV daily × 5 days, then 10 mg IV daily × 5 days

60-day mortality with side effect

[27]

Low dose Methylprednisolone

Severe patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

2 mg/kg IV daily × 5–7 days

Length of ICU hospitalization was significantly shorter while not showed significant difference of mortality rate

[32]

High dose Methylprednisolone

Critical patients with COVID-19

Single dosage 40–500 mg according to severity

Improved lung function without negative impacts on the production of specific IgG antibody against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

[33]

High dose Methylprednisolone

COVID-19 pneumonia

1 mg/kg IV daily × 7 days

No significant results were observed in 14 days. After 14 days improved or alleviated clinical symptoms and signs

[34]

High dose Methylprednisolone

Critical patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

40 mg IV two times daily × 3 days, then 20 mg IV two times daily × 3 days

Beneficial effect and decreasing the risk of admission to ICU, NIV or death

[35]

MetCOVID (NCT04343729)/High dose Methylprednisolone

Hospitalized patients with clinical and/or suspected COVID-19

0.5 mg/kg IV two times daily × 5 days

No reduction in mortality. Sepsis or positive blood culture collected on day 7

[36, 37]

Steroids-SARI (NCT04244591/High dose Methylprednisolone

COVID-19 patients with severe acute respiratory failure

40 mg IV Single dosage × 5 days

Lower lung injury at 7–14 days, Secondary bacterial infections; barotrauma; severe hyperglycemia; GI bleeding; attained disability

[38]

COVID STEROID (NCT04348305)/ Low dose, Hydrocortisone

COVID-19 and severe hypoxia

200 mg IV daily × 7 days

Initially patients not require life support; After 28 days, serious adverse effects observed

[17, 41]

REMAP-CAP (NCT02735707)/Low dose, Hydrocortisone

Critically ill COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure

200 mg IV daily × 7 days, then 100 mg IV daily × 4 days, then 50 mg IV daily × 3 days

Did not considerably decrease the infection, at day 21 treatment failure observed

[42]

CAPE-COVID (NCT02517489)/Low dose, Hydrocortisone

Minimal severity: admitted to ICU or intermediate care unit, on oxygen probable or confirmed COVID-19

Hydrocortisone IV continuous infusion × 8 or 14 days (200 mg IV daily × 4 or 7 days, 100 mg IV daily × 2 or 4 days, 50 mg IV daily × 2 or 3 days)

No significant difference in rate of treatment failure between hydrocortisone and placebo group observed in 21 days

[43]