Evaluating the Role of Calcium Dobesilate in COVID-19-Related Pulmonary Vascular Endotheliitis and Thrombosis: A Retrospective Analysis of Real-World Data

Background SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is known to cause acute inflammatory pulmonary microangiopathy, leading to alveolar-capillary thrombosis, severe respiratory failure, and potential mortality. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of calcium dobesilate (CaD) in treating COVID-19-related pulmonary complications using real-world data. Methods This retrospective study included 60 COVID-19 patients treated with CaD in addition to standard care at three outpatient centers in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Patient data, including demographics, medical history, COVID-19 symptoms, and concomitant treatments, were collected from medical records. Results The median dose of CaD was 2 grams per day, starting on the third day after diagnosis and continuing for a median of 28 days. Half of the patients also required steroid therapy, with 14 receiving dexamethasone and 16 receiving prednisone. Additionally, 23.3% of patients required oxygen therapy, with volumes ranging from 3 to 10 liters per minute. Improvement in clinical symptoms was observed after a median of 18.6 ± 10.6 days (n = 50), with full recovery occurring after 25.6 ± 10.3 days (n = 42). Importantly, no deaths or long-term complications were reported among the study participants. Conclusion The use of CaD in treating COVID-19-associated pulmonary microangiopathy shows promising outcomes, with a notable absence of mortality or severe sequelae. However, future randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with larger sample sizes are essential to confirm these findings and establish CaD's role in COVID-19 management.