title: Ribavirin and interferon therapy in patients infected with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been reported to have a high case-fatality rate. Currently, there is no specific therapy or vaccine with proven effectiveness for MERS-CoV infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A combination of ribavirin and interferon therapy was used for the treatment of five MERS-CoV-positive patients. We reviewed the therapeutic schedule and the outcome of these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were critically ill with acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with adjunctive corticosteroids and were on mechanical ventilation at the time of initiation of therapy. The median time from admission to therapy with ribavirin and interferon was 19 (range 10-22) days. None of the patients responded to the supportive or therapeutic interventions and all died of their illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While ribavirin and interferon may be effective in some patients, our practical experience suggests that critically ill patients with multiple comorbidities who are diagnosed late in the course of their illness may not benefit from combination antiviral therapy as preclinical data suggest. There is clearly an urgent need for a novel effective antiviral therapy for this emerging global threat.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, PO Box 76, Room A-428-2, Building 61, Dhahran Health Center, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA. Electronic address: jaffar.tawfiq@aramco.com.
authors.forename: Jaffar A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Tawfiq
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services Division, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Momattin
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services Division, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dib
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Center for Mass Gathering Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015378:Imipenem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D015378:Imipenem
keywords: Interferon; MERS-CoV; Pegylated interferon; Ribavirin