Anti-Ebola therapy for patients with Ebola virus disease: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Management of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has historically focused on infection prevention, case detection and supportive care. Several specific anti-Ebola therapies have been investigated, including during the 2014–2016 West African outbreak. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the effect of anti-Ebola virus therapies on clinical outcomes to guide their potential use and future evaluation. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health, Cochrane Library, African Index Medicus, WHOLIS (inception-9 April 2018), and trial registries for observational studies or clinical trials, in any language, that enrolled patients with confirmed EVD who received therapy targeting Ebola virus and reported on mortality, symptom duration, or adverse effects. Results From 11,257 citations and registered trials, we reviewed 55 full-text citations, of which 35 met eligibility criteria (1 randomized clinical trial (RCT), 8 non-randomized comparative studies, 9 case series and 17 case reports) and collectively examined 21 anti-Ebola virus agents. The 31 studies performed during the West African outbreak reported on 4.8% (1377/28616) of all patients with Ebola. The only RCT enrolled 72 patients (0.25% of all patients with Ebola) and compared the monoclonal antibody ZMapp vs. standard care (mortality, 22% vs. 37%; 95% confidence interval for risk difference, − 36 to 7%). Studies of convalescent plasma, interferon-β-1a, favipiravir, brincidofovir, artesunate-amodiaquine and TKM-130803 were associated with at least moderate risk of bias. Conclusions Research evaluating anti-Ebola virus agents has reached very few patients with EVD, and inferences are limited by non-randomized study designs. ZMapp has the most promising treatment signal. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-3980-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Use of Antimalarial Drugs against Viral Infection

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“…Parmi les divers traitements proposés pour lutter contre la COVID-19 7 , on compte l'administration de plasma de convalescent, qui est appuyée par des données montrant une diminution du taux de mortalité dans des cas d'infection par le virus Ebola 8 . Cette intervention a également été testée dans le cadre d'études sur d'autres infections respiratoires virales aiguës sévères 6,9,10 .…”

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