Prophylactic Efficacy of Intranasal Alpha₂-Interferon against Rhinovirus Infections in the Family Setting

Abstract

In a double-blind evaluation of alpha 2-interferon as prophylaxis against naturally acquired respiratory infections, 120 adult members of 46 Australian families used 325 courses of intranasal spray during a six-month period, applying 5 million IU to the anterior nasal mucosa daily for seven days when respiratory symptoms developed in another member of the family. Used in this way, the alpha 2-interferon was well tolerated, and the rate of minor nasal bleeding (12 percent) did not increase with repeated courses. By comparison with the control group of 109 members of 49 families who used 319 seven-day courses of placebo spray, the users of alpha 2-interferon experienced 33 percent fewer days with nasal symptoms and 41 percent fewer episodes of "definite" respiratory illness. The users of alpha 2-interferon who were exposed to rhinovirus infections experienced 76 percent fewer days with symptoms and 86 percent fewer "definite" illnesses than their counterparts who used placebo. All of the observed clinical benefits, which suggested prevention of 6.8 "definite" respiratory illnesses per 100 courses of medication used, could be explained by a protective effect against illness associated with rhinoviruses that was not demonstrated for influenza A or B or coronavirus 229E.

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“…The literature on the common cold contains many studies on prophylactic use of such agents as interferons [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] and synthetic drugs 8,27,28 in attempts to prevent colds or shorten their duration. Interferon, for example has demonstrated varying degrees of prophylactic efficacy.…”

“…Interferon, for example has demonstrated varying degrees of prophylactic efficacy. [20][21][22]24,26 Success with such agents has proven to be elusive to date, 8,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] as most treatments either have had limited efficacy or have had side-effects, such as nasal irritation, that are more severe than the symptoms of the cold. Very few agents have been found to have any effect once the symptoms have developed, i.e.…”

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“…One of these substances was recently shown in a clinical study to suppress COmmon colds when given prior to virus challenge (AI-Nakib et al, 1989). Interferon has been given prophylactically to persons in settings in which other family members were afflicted with colds (Douglas et al, 1986;Hayden et sl., 1986;Monto et el., 1989), but side-effects from such treatments are common and efficacy is questionable (Monto et al, 1989).…”

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“…This was confirmed using pure human IFN-ct from various sources and recent family studies (Scott & Tyrrell, 1985) have shown that such a spray given daily reduces by about 70 or 80~ the number of rhinovirus colds which occur after an individual with a rhinovirus cold is introduced into the family (e.g. Douglas et al, 1986).…”