A multi-center randomized prospective study on the treatment of infant bronchiolitis with interferon α1b nebulization.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of bronchiolitis in infants and interferon (IFN) α is a commercial antiviral drug. The nebulization of IFN α1b could be a viable treatment method. In this study, the therapeutic effects and safety of IFN α1b delivery via nebulization in infant bronchiolitis were investigated in this multi-center prospective study.

METHODS AND FINDINGS:

Bronchiolitis patients admitted to 22 hospitals who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled and randomly allocated to four groups: control, IFN Intramuscular Injection, IFN Nebulization 1 (1 μg/kg), and IFN Nebulization 2 (2 μg/kg) groups. All patients were observed for 7 days. The therapeutic effects and safety of different IFN delivery doses and delivery modes were evaluated. Coughing severity change, as scored by the researchers and parents, between days 1 and 3 was significantly different between the IFN Nebulization 2 and control groups. Lowell wheezing score change between days 3 and 5 was significantly different between IFN Nebulization 1 and control groups. There were no significant differences among the four groups regarding the number of consecutive days with fever, three-concave sign, fatigue and sleepiness, and loss of appetite. There were no cases of severe complications, no recurrence of fever, and no regression of mental status.

CONCLUSIONS:

IFN-α1b could more effectively alleviate coughing and wheezing in bronchiolitis. IFN-α1b nebulization had significant advantages in shortening the duration of wheezing and alleviating coughing.

• Authors: Lina Chen, Mingfang Shi, Quanmin Deng, Wenjun Liu, Qin Li, Piao Ye, Xiahui Yu, Benjin Zhang, Yuxia Xu, Xiaolan Li, Yao Yang, Min Li, Yi Yan, Zhe Xu, Jing Yu, Long Xiang, Xiaojun Tang, Guangping Wan, Qiang Cai, Li Wang, Bo Hu, Liang Xie, Gen Li, Lunyan Xie, Xiaoyun Liu, Chunyan Liu, Li Li, Lijie Chen, Xiaobin Jiang, Yana Huang, Si Wang, Jiang Guo, Yan Shi, Li Li, Xiaofang Wang, Zhiyong Zhao, Yan Li, Yanru Liu, Qiang Fu, Yan Zeng, Yan Zou, Dingyuan Liu, Deyun Wan, Tao Ai, Hanmin Liu
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. e0228391 ( 2020) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32084142 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• IFNA1 protein, human
• Interferon-alpha

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage)
• Bronchiolitis (drug therapy)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Hospitalization (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Infant
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Nebulizers and Vaporizers (statistics & numerical data)
• Prospective Studies
• Recurrence
• Respiratory Sounds (drug effects)