The ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 has quickly become a daunting challenge to global health. In the absence of targeted therapy and a reported 5.5% case fatality rate in the United States, treatments preventing rapid cardiopulmonary failure are urgently needed. Clinical features, pathology and homology to better understood pathogens suggest that uncontrolled inflammation and a cytokine storm likely drive COVID-19's unrelenting disease process. Interventions that are protective against acute lung injury and ARDS can play a critical role for patients and health systems during this pandemic. Nitric oxide is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory molecule with key roles in pulmonary vascular function in the context of viral infections and other pulmonary disease states. This article reviews the rationale for exogenous nitric oxide use for the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and highlights its potential for contributing to better clinical outcomes and alleviating the rapidly rising strain on healthcare capacity.

持续爆发的 COVID-19 已迅速成为全球健康面临的严峻挑战。在缺乏靶向治疗和美国报道的 5.5% 病死率的情况下，迫切需要预防快速心肺衰竭的治疗方法。更好地了解病原体的临床特征、病理学和同源性表明，不受控制的炎症和细胞因子风暴可能推动 COVID-19 的无情疾病过程。在这种大流行期间，预防急性肺损伤和 ARDS 的干预措施可以对患者和卫生系统发挥关键作用。一氧化氮是一种抗菌和抗炎分子，在病毒感染和其他肺部疾病状态下对肺血管功能起着关键作用。