Prophylactic intranasal alpha 2 interferon and viral exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease.

Abstract

Background As respiratory virus infections often lead to exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and asthma an effective antiviral drug may be helpful in such patients. Alpha2 interferon has been shown to give protection against rhinovirus infections in field studies. Methods Patients with chronic respiratory disease exposed to close contacts with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection were randomly allocated to receive nasal sprays of recombinant OC2 interferon (3 x 106 IU) or placebo twice daily for five days. Of the 123 patients recruited into the study, 69 took 117 courses of medication; 11 courses were excluded from analysis. Results No important side effects were recorded and the incidence of possible adverse effects was similar in the two groups. Interferon treatment did not reduce the number or severity of symptomatic episodes; 11 of 48 patients given interferon and 16 of 58 given placebo developed lower respiratory symptoms. There were no differences in mean symptom scores (51 interferon and 52 placebo), number of symptomatic days (3 3 interferon and 5 0 placebo), peak flow values, number of general practitioner consultations, or use of antibiotics. Conclusion Alpha2 interferon 3 x 10'IU taken twice daily for five days does not protect patients with chronic respiratory disease from exacerbations after they have been in contact with an upper respiratory tract infection.

Antiviral activity of arbidol, a broad‐spectrum drug for use against respiratory viruses, varies according to test conditions

“…A broad-spectrum drug with activity against several major respiratory viruses could overcome many of these problems. Such a role had been envisaged for interferon [Monto et al, 1986;Portnoy et al, 1988], but results from clinical trials on the prevention of respiratory viral disease in the 1980s were disappointing [Tannock et al, 1988;Wiselka et al, 1991]. , and 10 (Â) mg/ml arbidol.…”

Impact of respiratory virus infection in patients with chronic chest disease

“…The patients with chronic chest disease described in this study took part in a recently reported trial of prophylactic intranasal a2-interferon [14]. However, the present paper considers only those episodes in which the placebo was administered.…”

“…However, the present paper considers only those episodes in which the placebo was administered. The selection of patients and study design have been described previously [14]. Subjects entering the study were adults with an established history of chronic airways disease.…”

“…Antibodies to coronavirus 229E and OC43 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as described previously [14,16].…”

“…Only those upper or lower respiratory tract episodes beginning in the 10-day period following contact with the index case were analysed. The outcome of patients with chest disease after close exposure to an index case with a cold was classified as either nil; doubtful cold; upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or lower respiratory tract infection [14]. These outcomes were defined as follows; 'nil', asymptomatic subjects; 'doubtful cold', symptoms scoring no more than 1 (mild) or involving only one of nose, throat or cough; 'upper respiratory tract infection' (URTI), symptoms involving two or more of nose, throat, cough or systemic features with at least one symptom scoring 2 (moderately severe) or worse; 'lower respiratory tract infection', symptoms in at least two of cough, sputum, wheeze or chest tightness lasting at least 2 days.…”