Ribavirin and interferon-α2b as primary and preventive treatment for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a preliminary report of two cases.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly recognized transmissible viral infection with high virulence and case fatality rates for which there is no currently defined primary treatment or prophylaxis. Saudi Arabia has the largest reported number of cases so far. Like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), MERS is caused by a coronavirus. Combination therapy with interferon-α2b and ribavirin has been used successfully as primary treatment and prophylaxis in SARS. Because of similarities between the two coronaviruses, treatment with ribavarin and interferon-α2b has been suggested as a potential therapy for MERS-CoV. Studies in animal models of MERS-CoV have shown the combination of ribavirin and interferon-α2b to be effective both as primary treatment and prophylaxis. In this report, we describe for the first time use of this combination as a primary treatment for a patient with MERS-CoV infection and as prophylaxis for his spouse and discuss its possible role.
Section of Pulmonary Medicine, King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. mariamskh2@yahoo.com.
Mohammed
M
Khalid
Fahad
F
Al Rabiah
Basha
B
Khan
Abdullah
A
Al Mobeireek
Taimur S
TS
Butt
Eid
E
Al Mutairy
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b