Development of a standard treatment protocol for severe acute respiratory syndrome.
A series of 31 patients with probable SARS, diagnosed from WHO criteria, were treated according to a treatment protocol consisting of antibacterials and a combination of ribavirin and methylprednisolone. Through experience with the first 11 patients, we were able to finalise standard dose regimens, including pulsed methylprednisolone. One patient recovered on antibacterial treatment alone, 17 showed rapid and sustained responses, and 13 achieved improvement with step-up or pulsed methylprednisolone. Four patients required short periods of non-invasive ventilation. No patient required intubation or mechanical ventilation. There was no mortality or treatment morbidity in this series.
Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China. drcwlau@hkstar.com
Loletta K-Y
LK
So
Arthur C W
AC
Lau
Loretta Y C
LY
Yam
Thomas M T
TM
Cheung
Edwin
E
Poon
Raymond W H
RW
Yung
K Y
KY
Yuen
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D008775:Methylprednisolone