Pharmacokinetics of Ribavirin in the Treatment of Lassa Fever: An Observational Clinical Study at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background Lassa fever is endemic in large parts of West Africa. The recommended antiviral treatment is ribavirin. Two treatment regimens are currently endorsed in Nigeria: the “McCormick regimen” based on a study published in 1986 and the “Irrua regimen” constituting a simplified schedule developed at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Nigeria. Evidence for the safety and efficacy of ribavirin in Lassa fever patients is poor and pharmacokinetic data for both regimens are lacking. Methods PCR-confirmed Lassa fever patients with mild to moderate disease severity were invited to participate in this prospective, observational pharmacokinetic study. Pharmacokinetics of ribavirin, clinical, virologic, and clinical laboratory parameters were assessed. Results Using a population pharmacokinetic approach, plasma concentrations of ribavirin were best described by a three-compartment model. Drug exposure was remarkably consistent between participants. Overall, drug clearance was 28.5% lower in female compared to male participants. Median (5th-95th percentile) time above IC50 was 37.3% (16.9%-73.1%), 16.7% (8.2%-58.5%) and 9.6% (4.9%-38.4%) on days 1, 7 and 8, respectively. Clinical laboratory parameters indicated reduction of cell damage and development of hemolytic anemia in the course of the treatment period. Conclusions This observational study characterizes the pharmacokinetics of ribavirin in the treatment of Lassa fever indicating consistent exposure across patients. Whereas the only short time interval of concentrations above the IC50 implies rather low antiviral efficacy in vivo, the prominent reduction of cell damage markers might point to indirect – potentially anti-inflammatory – effects of ribavirin. The role of ribavirin in the treatment of Lassa fever requires further scrutiny.

Addressing bottlenecks in Lassa fever treatment: overcoming the ribavirin parenteral formulation challenge

“…Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum synthetic nucleoside analogue with multiple proposed mechanisms of action including viral lethal mutagenesis [ 2 ]. In the management of Lassa fever, there are two regimens for the administration of Adult Ribavirin, both regimens involve the administration of intravenous Ribavirin over a 10-day period [ 5 , 10 ]. In the McCormick, intravenous Ribavirin is administered at a loading dose of 33 mg/kg (maximum 2.64 g), followed by 16 mg/kg (maximum 1.28 g) 6 h for 4 days, followed by 8 mg (maximum 0.64 g) 8 h for another 6 days [ 5 ].…”

“…In the McCormick, intravenous Ribavirin is administered at a loading dose of 33 mg/kg (maximum 2.64 g), followed by 16 mg/kg (maximum 1.28 g) 6 h for 4 days, followed by 8 mg (maximum 0.64 g) 8 h for another 6 days [ 5 ]. The Irrua regimen uses daily dosing of 100 mg/kg (maximum 7 g), followed by 25 mg/kg daily days 2–7, and followed by 12.5 mg from days 8–10 [ 10 ]. In pregnancy, a modified McCormick regimen is used with a loading dose of 100 g/kg divided doses in place of 33 mg/kg stat dose [ 10 ].…”

“…The Irrua regimen uses daily dosing of 100 mg/kg (maximum 7 g), followed by 25 mg/kg daily days 2–7, and followed by 12.5 mg from days 8–10 [ 10 ]. In pregnancy, a modified McCormick regimen is used with a loading dose of 100 g/kg divided doses in place of 33 mg/kg stat dose [ 10 ].…”