Enhancement the eff ec- tiveness of therapy of the new COVID-19 coronavirus infection using interferon alpha-2b in adults

Abstract

In order to assess the clinical eff ectiveness of COVID-19 complex therapy in adults, 140 patients with a confi rmed diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection, clinical symptoms and lung damage from 25 to 75 % (mild and moderate form) hospitalized in budgetary healthcare institutions of the Omsk region were included in an open prospective observational study. Patients were evenly divided into two groups: 1 — received standard therapy in accordance with the Temporary Guidelines "Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)" approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and interferon alpha-2b preparations (Viferon ® rectal suppositories 3,000,000 IU and Viferon ® gel for external and topical use of 36,000 IU/g); 2 — received only standard therapy. In group 1 patients, elimination of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen from the nasopharyngeal mucosa occurred 2 days earlier than in group 2 patients. Also, patients receiving standard therapy and interferon alpha-2b preparations improved on average 4.5 days earlier, most of the main symptoms of the disease were stopped by the 6th day of therapy. It was noted that in patients receiving complex standard therapy with adding of interferon alpha-2b preparations, a more pronounced regression of lung tissue damage was observed, especially in patients with a high degree of their lesion according to CT data before hospitalization. By the end of treatment in group 1, the proportion of patients with lung tissue lesions of grade CT-3 signifi cantly decreased by 17%, while in group 2, the proportion of patients with CT-3 increased by 13 %. Analysis of the dynamics of laboratory parameters and the main markers of infl ammation in the therapy groups also confi rms the positive eff ect of the inclusion of interferon alpha-2b drugs in the standard therapy. No adverse events associated with the use of interferon alpha-2b preparations were registered. Thus, in patients receiving standard therapy and interferon alpha-2b preparations, recovery occurred in a shorter time. In the end, this contributed to a faster discharge from the hospital and a reduction in the burden on the bed fund and medical staff . The results obtained give grounds to recommend the inclusion of interferon alpha-2b preparations (Viferon ® rectal suppositories 3,000,000 IU and Viferon ® gel for external and topical use 36,000 IU/g) in standard COVID-19 therapy regimens in adult patients with mild and moderate forms of the disease.