RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effectiveness of early treatment of lopinavir–ritonavir in patients with severe COVID-19: a case series JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP e80 OP e83 DO 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0348 VO 21 IS 1 A1 Pan Luo A1 Jian-ling Zheng A1 Yi Liu A1 Lin Qiu A1 Xiu-lan Liu A1 Hui-ying Xue A1 Dong Liu A1 Juan Li YR 2021 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/1/e80.abstract AB Aim The inconsistent effects of lopinavir–ritonavir (LPV/r) on COVID-19 seem to be caused by the therapeutic window. In the present study, we aim to present the effects of early LPV/r treatment on patients with severe COVID-19.Methods The demographics, characteristics, treatments, SARS-CoV-2 test results and outcomes of 19 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with LPV/r within 12 days of onset of symptoms were retrospectively assessed.Results Within 3 days of admission, three (15.79%) patients received noninvasive ventilation, and 16 (84.21%) patients received high-flow oxygen support. The median duration between the onset of symptoms and initiating LPV/r therapy was 9 (range 2–12) days. The median course of LPV/r treatment was 11 (range 7–17) days. One of the 19 patients (5.26%) died. Of the 18 patients discharged, the median hospital stay was 17 (range 11–45) days. At day 6 after LPV/r therapy was initiated, 68.42% of patients were virologically cured, increasing to 84.22% at day 12.Conclusion In this cohort of patients with severe COVID-19 who were treated with LPV/r within 12 days of the onset of symptoms, clinical improvement was observed in 18/19 patients (94.74%). Randomised controlled trials are urgently needed to further evaluate this strategy.