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Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1977 October; 12(4): 498-502
Copyright © 1977 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Double-Blind Evaluation of Oral Ribavirin (Virazole) in Experimental Influenza A Virus Infection in Volunteers

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

ABSTRACT

The prophylactic effectiveness of oral administration of ribavirin (1-ß-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) against experimentally induced influenza A infection was evaluated in a double-blind clinical trial in normal volunteers. Fourteen men received ribavirin capsules (1,000 mg/day in four divided doses) and 15 other men received identical-appearing placebo capsules beginning 6 h after the intranasal inoculation of 3.4 log₁₀ 50% tissue culture infectious doses of influenza virus A/Victoria/3/75 H3N2 and continuing for 5 days after challenge. The total number of moderate-to-severe symptom scores and the total number of temperatures 100°F (37.8°C) were significantly lower in the ribavirin group compared with the placebo group. The mean quantity of virus shed in nasal wash specimens and the total number of days that there were viral titers greater than 1.0 log₁₀ 50% tissue culture infectious doses per ml were significantly greater in the placebo group. There was no difference between the frequencies of virus isolated or the antibody responses in the two groups. Therefore, prophylactic ribavirin ameliorated symptoms and fever indicative of moderate-to-severe illness, but had no effect on the manifestations of mild illness in response to influenza A challenge. A transient rise in total serum bilirubin occurred in 29% of the ribavirin-treated volunteers and in none of the placebo-treated volunteers.

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