Interferon inductors: clinical efficacy and regulation of inflammatory responses in paediatric respiratory infections

Abstract

Introduction. The study of the set of mechanisms of inflammation regulation plays an important role in shaping understanding of the local and general protective and adaptive processes in paediatric respiratory infections. The cytokine system is taken as universal, pleiotropic regulators of the cascade of inflammatory, immune and metabolic processes. Nowadays, the drugs with the potential for effecting the course of cytokine reactions are of great interest.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy of the impact of low molecular weight interferon inducers with a wide range of biological activity on the severity of clinical symptoms and the level of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines of peripheral blood in paediatric respiratory infections.Materials and methods. 98 children with ARVI aged 4 to 11 years were examined, of which 57 children received meglumine acridone acetate as etiotropic antiviral therapy at recommended age-related doses and were included in the treatment group. 41 children receiving only symptomatic treatment were included in the comparison group.Results and discussions. Clinically, the use of meglumine acridone acetate resulted in decreased duration of the major symptoms of acute viral respiratory infections among children, reduced risk of complications, and decreased inflammatory manifestations. It was shown that the minimum levels of interleukin-1, -4 and -8 were typical for healthy children, which confirmed the activation of cytokine reactions only in the process of development of pathological symptoms from various organs and systems. An increase in all the studied cytokine levels was observed in ARVI, while the dominance in growth of pro-inflammatory cytokines with underlying slightly increased level of anti-inflammatory interleukin-4 was observed in severe general toxic syndrome and catarrhal signs. In similar cases, a balanced decrease in the levels of anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines and a relatively rapid regression of clinical symptoms was noted during the meglumine acridone acetate therapy.Conclusions. The use of meglumine acridone acetate contributes to the rapid relief of the major clinical symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, and shortens the duration of the disease. The nature of cytokine reactions can serve as a marker of an unfavourable course of ARVI. The prescription of low-molecular interferon inducers balances an increase in the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines of peripheral blood.