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. 1977 Oct;12(4):498–502. doi: 10.1128/aac.12.4.498

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

C Richard Magnussen 1, R Gordon Douglas Jr 1, Robert F Betts 1, Frieda K Roth 1, Mary Pat Meagher 1
PMCID: PMC429953  PMID: 921245

Abstract

The prophylactic effectiveness of oral administration of ribavirin (1-β-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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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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