title: Modulation of alpha-interferon's antiviral and clinical effects by aspirin, acetaminophen, and prednisone in healthy volunteers.
abstract: The magnitude and duration of the antiviral and clinical effect of alpha-interferon was measured in healthy volunteers. A single 3 million unit intramuscular dose of interferon was given either alone (controls) or after 72 h of concomitant medications. These medications included either aspirin (650 mg every 4 h), acetaminophen (650 mg every 4 h), or prednisone (40 mg per day). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assayed for resistance to vesicular stomatitis virus infection and induction of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity as evidence of interferon's antiviral effect. Co-administration of acetaminophen increased both antiviral parameters by more than 70% (P < 0.05) and reduced symptoms after interferon dosing, compared to controls. Aspirin and prednisone did not demonstrate any significant differences from controls in antiviral effect. As a group, acetaminophen, aspirin, and prednisone reduced the clinical symptoms by 47% compared to controls (P = 0.03) after interferon dosing, although individual drug comparisons failed to reach statistical significance. Independent of treatment group, the changes in antiviral markers after interferon dosing correlated closely with each other (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), but neither correlated with symptoms or fever (r < 0.30, P > 0.05). Acetaminophen enhances the antiviral effects of a single intramuscular dose of alpha-interferon, considering the parameters measured in these healthy volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Witter
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lietman
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000082:Acetaminophen; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase; D001241:Aspirin; D011241:Prednisone