Randomized controlled multicenter trial of aerosolized ribavirin for respiratory syncytial virus upper respiratory tract infection in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory syncytial virus infection of the upper airways may progress to fatal pneumonia in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. The safety and efficacy of aerosolized ribavirin in preventing disease progression is unknown.


METHODS
In a multicenter prospective trial, hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with respiratory syncytial virus infection of the upper airways were randomized to receive ribavirin (2 g 3 times daily) or supportive care for 10 days. The primary end point was progression to radiographically proven pneumonia. Secondary end points included virologically proven respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia, viral load changes, and safety.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients were randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. The trial was discontinued after 5 years because of slow accrual. Pneumonia at 1 month after randomization occurred in 1 of 9 patients who received ribavirin and in 2 of 5 patients who received supportive care (P=.51); virologically proven respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia occurred in 0 of 9 and 2 of 5 patients, respectively (P=.11). At 10 days after randomization, the average viral load decreased by 0.75 log10 copies/mL in ribavirin recipients, compared with a viral load increase of 1.26 log10 copies/mL in untreated patients (P=.07). No discontinuations of ribavirin therapy because of adverse effects occurred during 84 drug administrations. Rates of adverse events were similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Preemptive aerosolized ribavirin treatment appeared to be safe, and trends of decreasing viral load over time were observed. However, proof of efficacy remains elusive in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
Boeckh
Michael
M
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. mboeckh@FHCRC.org
Englund
Janet
J
Li
Yufeng
Y
Miller
Carole
C
Cross
Alan
A
Fernandez
Humberto
H
Kuypers
Jane
J
Kim
Hyung
H
Gnann
John
J
Whitley
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
D000336:Aerosols; D012254:Ribavirin