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Hindi Research Article
The Most Effective Therapeutic Regimen for Patients with Severe Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection
| Tawalah HA1, Al-Qabandi S1, Sadiq M1, Chehadeh C2, Al-Hujailan G3 and Al-Qaseer M1* | |
| 1Clinical Virology Unit, Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital/Health Science Centre, Kuwait | |
| 2Department of Microbiology, Health Science Centre, University of Kuwait, Kuwait | |
| 3Infectious Diseases Unit, AlAddan Hospital, Kuwait | |
| Corresponding Author : | Mamoun Al-Qaseer Faculty of Clinical Virology Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization P.O. Box 1793, Safat, 13018, Kuwait Tel: +96524636529 E-mail: dr.almamoun@gmail.com |
| Received: March 23, 2015 Accepted: July 06, 2015 Published: July 13, 2015 | |
| Citation: Tawalah HA, Al-Qabandi S, Sadiq M, Chehadeh C, Al-Hujailan G et al. (2015) The Most Effective Therapeutic Regimen for Patients with Severe Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection. J Infect Dis Ther 3:223. doi:10.4172/2332-0877.1000223 | |
| Copyright: © 2015 Tawalah AH. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | |
| Related article at Pubmed, Scholar Google | |
Abstract
Background: More than two years after its discovery, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) continues to have a high case-fatality rate. A specific therapy with proven effectiveness for MERS-CoV infections still does not exist.
Method: MERSCoV-positive patients were treated with different suggested treatment options. The virological and clinical progress of these patients in response to the treatment was evaluated.
Results: Both patients had co-morbidities and were critically ill with acute respiratory distress syndrome on mechanical ventilation at the time of diagnosis. Even though low dose ribavirin/ pegylated interferon α combination was started early for the first patient, it was provided late for the second patient. Both patients recovered from their infection.
Conclusion: By evaluating the clinical and virological response of the patients to the different treatment options implicated, it seems that currently the most effective therapy against severe MERS-CoV infection is the low dose ribavirin/ pegylated interferon α combination.
