title: Therapeutic options for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)--possible lessons from a systematic review of SARS-CoV therapy.
abstract: The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been detected in a number of countries in the Middle East and Europe with an apparently high mortality rate. It is phylogenetically related to the SARS coronavirus and has also been associated with severe respiratory illness as well as nosocomial transmission in healthcare settings. Current international recommendations do not support any specific therapies; however, there are a number of agents, which were used during the SARS epidemic of 2003. It is possible that these might be active against the related MERS coronavirus. We have reviewed the literature on the safety and efficacy of therapies used in patients with SARS with a view to their potential use in patients with MERS-CoV infections.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services Division, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Momattin
authors.forename: Khurram
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Alimuddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zumla
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.forename: Jaffar A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Tawfiq
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061466:Lopinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D061466:Lopinavir; D019438:Ritonavir
keywords: Interferon; MERS-CoV; Ribavarin; SARS