Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

To test the effect of interferon alfa and tribavirin (ribavirin) in patients with rabies encephalitis.An open trial of chemotherapy and intensive care in patients with early rabies.The intensive care unit of a Bangkok hospital.Four conscious men with clinical rabies encephalitis.Rapid virological diagnosis of rabies. Treatment with intravenous and intraventricular injections of high doses of lymphoblastoid interferon alfa in three patients and tribavirin in one patient. Intensive care was given throughout.Rabies infection confirmed by antigen detection and virus isolation. Rabies neutralising antibody and specific IgM sought in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Interferon concentrations monitored before and during treatment in three patients.Interferon alfa treatment produced high concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. All four patients died after 5 1/2 to 12 1/2 days of treatment with no evidence of virostatic or clinically beneficial effects from either treatment.Interferon alfa treatment is not effective in rabies encephalitis. The use of tribavirin warrants further study, possibly combined with new therapeutic methods.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/bmj.299.6703.830

Type

Journal article

Journal

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)

Publication Date

09/1989

Volume

299

Pages

830 - 833

Addresses

Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Keywords

Humans, Encephalitis, Rabies, Interferon Type I, Ribonucleosides, Ribavirin, Drug Therapy, Combination, Adolescent, Adult, Middle Aged, Male, Clinical Trials as Topic