Cancer Treatment Today

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections may be fatal in immunocompromised patients. Aerosolized ribavirin is used for treatment, but it is very costly, teratogenic, and inconvenient. Oral form had been studied in a variety of immunocompromised patients, with good tolerability and has generally been effective, had an inconsistent result, but is widely used, especially when outpatient therapy is required. Oral ribavirin with or without IVIG is a well-tolerated treatment for RSV infection in moderately to severely immunocompromised hosts. Ribavirin is the only antiviral treatment option for noninfluenza respiratory viruses; however, high-quality data demonstrating its efficacy and relative advantages of the aerosolized versus oral form are lacking. There are significant unmet needs, including data defining the virologic characteristics and clinical significance of human rhinoviruses, human coronaviruses, human metapneumovirus, and human bocavirus, as well as the need for new treatment and preventative options. However, currently it si in wide use in these situations and is generally accepted based on the efficacy data which is available.

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Blood. 2016 Jun 2;127(22):2682-92