Corona virus disease 2019, a recently declared pandemic by the World Health Organization, is associated with a mortality ranging from 1-5% in immunocompetent individuals and will probably results in higher mortality in immunosuppressed patients. One of the important factors affecting outcomes including morality and ICU admission has been the viral load at the onset of disease and the rate of viral clearance. There are no standard drugs that are of proven benefit against the COVID 19 virus and majority of the treatment has been supportive. Recent data has suggested that ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, is able to cause a 5000 fold reduction in viral RNA at 48 hours post exposure in cell lines. Ivermectin is a very safe drug to use in immunosuppressed patients for treatment of parasitic infections and has a good safety and tolerability profile.

In this study, we would like to randomize patients into 2 groups – group A will get the standard treatment protocol for COVID 19 infection as per institutional protocols and Group B will receive the standard treatment along with Ivermectin given on day 1 and Day 8. Baseline samples will be collected to look for presence of cytopenia, coagulopathy and also status of the immune system. The PCR samples will be stored for quantification of the viral load at a later point of time. PCR samples will be repeated on alternate days starting on Day 1 followed by 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 and then at weekly intervals till discharge/death. All patients will be followed till recovery from illness or death. Blood parameters that are abnormal will be repeated twice a week till discharge.  We will study whether there is a rapid clearance of the virus with the use of ivermectin and whether that has led to better outcomes. 

Results and Conclusion:

We will be able to study if ivermectin reduces the viral load and whether this reduction will lead to stabilization of disease and clinical findings including the inflammatory parameters.