The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently the most acute healthcare challenge in the world. Despite growing knowledge of the nature of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), treatment options are still poorly defined. The safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), specifically ibuprofen, has been openly questioned without any supporting evidence or clarity over dose, duration, or temporality of administration. This has been further conflicted by the initiation of studies to assess the efficacy of ibuprofen in improving outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients. To clarify the scientific reality, a literature search was conducted alongside considerations of the pharmacological properties of ibuprofen in order to construct this narrative review. The literature suggests that double-blind, placebo-controlled study results must be reported and carefully analysed for safety and efficacy in patients with COVID-19 before any recommendations can be made regarding the use of ibuprofen in such patients. Limited studies have suggested: (i) no direct interactions between ibuprofen and SARS-CoV-2 and (ii) there is no evidence to suggest ibuprofen affects the regulation of angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor for COVID-19, in human studies. Furthermore, in vitro studies suggest ibuprofen may facilitate cleavage of ACE2 from the membrane, preventing membrane-dependent viral entry into the cell, the clinical significance of which is uncertain. Additionally, in vitro evidence suggests that inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB) by ibuprofen may have a role in reducing excess inflammation or cytokine release in COVID-19 patients. Finally, there is no evidence that ibuprofen will aggravate or increase the chance of infection of COVID-19.

冠状病毒疾病19（COVID-19）大流行目前是世界上最紧急的医疗挑战。尽管人们对重症急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的性质有了越来越多的了解，但治疗方案的定义仍然不明确。非甾体类抗炎药（NSAIDs），特别是布洛芬的安全性已受到公开质疑，没有任何支持证据或在给药剂量，持续时间或给药时间方面不清楚。这开始于评估布洛芬改善严重COVID-19患者结局的疗效的研究中，进一步产生矛盾。为了弄清科学现实，在进行布洛芬的药理特性研究的同时进行了文献检索，以构建这一叙述性综述。文献表明，双盲，必须就安慰剂对照的研究结果进行报告，并仔细分析COVID-19患者的安全性和有效性，然后才能对此类患者使用布洛芬提出任何建议。有限的研究表明：（i）布洛芬与SARS-CoV-2之间没有直接相互作用，并且（ii）没有证据表明布洛芬会影响血管紧张素转化酶2（ACE2）（COVID-19的受体）的调节，在人类研究中。此外，体外研究表明，布洛芬可促进ACE2从膜上的裂解，阻止膜依赖性病毒进入细胞，其临床意义尚不确定。另外，体外证据表明，布洛芬对转录因子核因子-κB（NF-kB）的抑制作用可能在减少COVID-19患者的过度炎症或细胞因子释放中起作用。最后，没有证据表明布洛芬会加重或增加感染COVID-19的机会。