Participants
infection, renal dysfunction
INFECTION, SARS-COV-2 INFECTION, CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE
Patients were eligible for enrollment if they fulfilled the following criteria: were aged ≥18 years; had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; had symptom duration of at least 7 days; required at least 5 liters/minute of supplemental oxygen for at least 8 hours, or shorter time if more than 10 liters/minute of Oxygen was needed to maintain SpO2 at ≥93%; had CRP > 70 mg/L and; Ferritin > 500 μg/L (measured up to 48 hours before inclusion); had no non-SARS-Cov2 infection, and; had at least two points on a scale of 0–3 where 1 point was awarded for each value of; lymphocytes < 1x 10(9)/L; D-dimer ≥ 0.5 mg/L and; lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 8 microkatal/L (threshold values did not have to be concurrently fulfilled and measurements made during the past 72 hours were accepted); were able to provide informed and signed consent; were willing and able to comply with study-related procedures/assessments.Key exclusion criteria included: ongoing or completed mechanical ventilation; severe renal dysfunction eGFR < 30 mL/min; chronic liver disease; absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 2 x 10