To better understand the potential of ribavirin in the treatment of orthopoxvirus infections (such as those acquired through bioterrorist activities), the efficacy of the drug was studied in a cowpox respiratory infection model in mice under varying disease severity. Mice did not survive a high intranasal cowpox virus challenge [3 x 10(6) plaque forming units (pfu)/animal] treated with subcutan...

Coagulation FVII (Factor VII) is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein synthesized in hepatocytes. It was reported previously that FVII gene (F7) expression was up-regulated by ribavirin treatment in hepatitis C virus-infected haemophilia patients; however, its precise mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of ribavirin-induced up-regulation of F7...

Chronically hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects about 180 million people worldwide and it is a major cause of serious liver disease. As sustained virological response (SVR) to anti-HCV therapy avoids progression of liver fibrosis, decreases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and improve the survival of patients, antiviral therapy is considered as a crucial option in the management of chronic HCV ...

BACKGROUND & AIMS For hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients who have not responded to previous PegIFN/ribavirin treatment, it is unclear whether subsequent direct-acting antiviral therapy outcomes are better predicted by prior treatment response or by on-treatment response to a PegIFN/ribavirin lead-in. METHODS In REALIZE, treatment-experienced patients randomized to the lead-in telaprevi...

BACKGROUND Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a alone produces significantly higher sustained virologic responses than treatment with interferon alfa-2a alone in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We compared the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin, interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, and peginterferon alfa-2a alone in the initial treatment of chroni...

The preeminent mode of action of the broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside ribavirin in the therapy of chronic hepatitis C is currently unresolved. Particularly under contest are possible mutagenic effects of ribavirin that may lead to viral extinction by lethal mutagenesis of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome. We applied ultradeep sequencing to determine ribavirin-induced sequence changes in th...

The acute and accumulated toxicity of the rare earth borotungstate heteropoly blues, HPB-2, Ce2H3[BW9(VI)W2(V)Mn(H2O)O39].12H2O, which is active against influenza virus in Kunming mice, were investigated in Kunming mice following oral and intraperitoneal administration. The activity of HPB-2 against influenza virus (FM1) in the mice was then investigated. HPB-2, given either orally (p.o.) or in...

Like HIV, the replication cycle of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is complex, involving multiple steps and many potential opportunities for pharmacologic inhibition or blockade. Nevertheless, attempts to eradicate HCV have been disappointing and previously have involved using the combination of intravenous interferon (weekly) and oral ribavirin. This combination has been associated with substantial to...

Current standard of treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection requires the use of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Treatment with these two agents has been associated with numerous side effects, which frequently include dermatologic eruptions. We report a cutaneous eruption associated with interferon having clinical presentation of erythema annulare centrifugum. The eruption occurre...

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been reported from more than 30 countries around the world. Ribavirin is the only drug which has in vitro effect on CCHF virus. Although there is a debate on the clinical benefit of ribavirin, some experts from the endemic areas strongly recommend ribavirin in patients with CCHF based on in vitro activity and rare adverse events with shortterm use1. He...