Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1991 Oct;46(10):706–711. doi: 10.1136/thx.46.10.706

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

M J Wiselka 1, K G Nicholson 1, J Kent 1, J B Cookson 1, D A Tyrrell 1
PMCID: PMC463387  PMID: 1750016

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. Alpha 2 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 alpha 2 interferon (3 x 10(6) 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 Alpha 2 interferon 3 x 10(6) 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.

Full text

PDF
706

Selected References

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

  1. Buscho R. O., Saxtan D., Shultz P. S., Finch E., Mufson M. A. Infections with viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae during exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. J Infect Dis. 1978 Apr;137(4):377–383. doi: 10.1093/infdis/137.4.377. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CATE T. R., COUCH R. B., FLEET W. F., GRIFFITH W. R., GERONE P. J., KNIGHT V. PRODUCTION OF TRACHEOBRONCHITIS IN VOLUNTEERS WITH RHINOVIRUS IN A SMALL-PARTICLE AEROSOL. Am J Epidemiol. 1965 Jan;81:95–105. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a120501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Carlsen K. H., Orstavik I., Leegaard J., Høeg H. Respiratory virus infections and aeroallergens in acute bronchial asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1984 Apr;59(4):310–315. doi: 10.1136/adc.59.4.310. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Douglas R. M., Moore B. W., Miles H. B., Davies L. M., Graham N. M., Ryan P., Worswick D. A., Albrecht J. K. Prophylactic efficacy of intranasal alpha 2-interferon against rhinovirus infections in the family setting. N Engl J Med. 1986 Jan 9;314(2):65–70. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198601093140201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gerblich A., Urda G., Schuyler M. Atopic asthma: T-cell response to corticosteroids. Chest. 1985 Jan;87(1):44–50. doi: 10.1378/chest.87.1.44. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Greenberg S. B., Harmon M. W., Couch R. B., Johnson P. E., Wilson S. Z., Dacso C. C., Bloom K., Quarles J. Prophylactic effect of low doses of human leukocyte interferon against infection with rhinovirus. J Infect Dis. 1982 Apr;145(4):542–546. doi: 10.1093/infdis/145.4.542. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hayden F. G., Gwaltney J. M., Jr Intranasal interferon alpha 2 for prevention of rhinovirus infection and illness. J Infect Dis. 1983 Sep;148(3):543–550. doi: 10.1093/infdis/148.3.543. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hayden F. G., Kaiser D. L., Albrecht J. K. Intranasal recombinant alfa-2b interferon treatment of naturally occurring common colds. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Feb;32(2):224–230. doi: 10.1128/aac.32.2.224. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hayden F. G., Mills S. E., Johns M. E. Human tolerance and histopathologic effects of long-term administration of intranasal interferon-alpha 2. J Infect Dis. 1983 Nov;148(5):914–921. doi: 10.1093/infdis/148.5.914. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Herzog C., Berger R., Fernex M., Friesecke K., Havas L., Just M., Dubach U. C. Intranasal interferon (rIFN-alpha A, Ro 22-8181) for contact prophylaxis against common cold: a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled field study. Antiviral Res. 1986 May;6(3):171–176. doi: 10.1016/0166-3542(86)90011-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kraaijeveld C. A., Reed S. E., Macnaughton M. R. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibody in volunteers experimentally infected with human coronavirus strain 229 E. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Oct;12(4):493–497. doi: 10.1128/jcm.12.4.493-497.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Merigan T. C., Reed S. E., Hall T. S., Tyrrell D. A. Inhibition of respiratory virus infection by locally applied interferon. Lancet. 1973 Mar 17;1(7803):563–567. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90714-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Minor T. E., Dick E. C., Baker J. W., Ouellette J. J., Cohen M., Reed C. E. Rhinovirus and influenza type A infections as precipitants of asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1976 Feb;113(2):149–153. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1976.113.2.149. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Minor T. E., Dick E. C., DeMeo A. N., Ouellette J. J., Cohen M., Reed C. E. Viruses as precipitants of asthmatic attacks in children. JAMA. 1974 Jan 21;227(3):292–298. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Mitchell I'Inglis H., Inglis H., Simpson H. Viral infection in wheezy bronchitis and asthma in children. Arch Dis Child. 1976 Sep;51(9):707–711. doi: 10.1136/adc.51.9.707. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Monto A. S., Albrecht J. K., Schwartz S. A. Demonstration of dose-response relationship in seasonal prophylaxis of respiratory infections with alpha-2b interferon. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Jan;32(1):47–50. doi: 10.1128/aac.32.1.47. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Monto A. S., Higgins M. W., Ross H. W. The Tecumseh study of respiratory illness. VIII. Acute infection in chronic respiratory disease and comparison groups. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1975 Jan;111(1):27–36. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1975.111.1.27. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Monto A. S., Shope T. C., Schwartz S. A., Albrecht J. K. Intranasal interferon-alpha 2b for seasonal prophylaxis of respiratory infection. J Infect Dis. 1986 Jul;154(1):128–133. doi: 10.1093/infdis/154.1.128. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Phillpotts R. J., Higgins P. G., Willman J. S., Tyrrell D. A., Freestone D. S., Shepherd W. M. Intranasal lymphoblastoid interferon ("Wellferon") prophylaxis against rhinovirus and influenza virus in volunteers. J Interferon Res. 1984 Fall;4(4):535–541. doi: 10.1089/jir.1984.4.535. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Samo T. C., Greenberg S. B., Couch R. B., Quarles J., Johnson P. E., Hook S., Harmon M. W. Efficacy and tolerance of intranasally applied recombinant leukocyte A interferon in normal volunteers. J Infect Dis. 1983 Sep;148(3):535–542. doi: 10.1093/infdis/148.3.535. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Scott E. J., Grist N. R., Eadie M. B. Rhinovirus infections in chronic bronchitis: isolation of eight possibly new rhinovirus serotypes. J Med Microbiol. 1968 Aug;1(1):109–117. doi: 10.1099/00222615-1-1-109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Scott G. M., Phillpotts R. J., Wallace J., Gauci C. L., Greiner J., Tyrrell D. A. Prevention of rhinovirus colds by human interferon alpha-2 from Escherichia coli. Lancet. 1982 Jul 24;2(8291):186–188. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(82)91031-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Scott G. M., Phillpotts R. J., Wallace J., Secher D. S., Cantell K., Tyrrell D. A. Purified interferon as protection against rhinovirus infection. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Jun 19;284(6332):1822–1825. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6332.1822. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Stuart-Harris C. H. The role of bacterial and viral infection in chronic bronchitis. Arch Environ Health. 1968 Apr;16(4):586–595. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1968.10665107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Turner R. B., Felton A., Kosak K., Kelsey D. K., Meschievitz C. K. Prevention of experimental coronavirus colds with intranasal alpha-2b interferon. J Infect Dis. 1986 Sep;154(3):443–447. doi: 10.1093/infdis/154.3.443. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Wyde P. R., Wilson S. Z., Kramer M. J., Sun C. S., Knight V. Pulmonary deposition and clearance of aerosolized interferon. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984 Jun;25(6):729–734. doi: 10.1128/aac.25.6.729. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES