Abstract
Background
Lassa fever is endemic in large parts of West Africa. The recommended antiviral treatment is ribavirin. Two treatment regimens are currently endorsed in Nigeria: the "McCormick regimen" based on a study published in 1986 and the "Irrua regimen" constituting a simplified schedule developed at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Nigeria. Evidence for the safety and efficacy of ribavirin in Lassa fever patients is poor and pharmacokinetic data for both regimens are lacking.
Methods
PCR-confirmed Lassa fever patients with mild to moderate disease severity were invited to participate in this prospective, observational pharmacokinetic study. Pharmacokinetics of ribavirin, clinical, virologic, and clinical laboratory parameters were assessed.
Results
Using a population pharmacokinetic approach, plasma concentrations of ribavirin were best described by a three-compartment model. Drug exposure was remarkably consistent between participants. Overall, drug clearance was 28.5% lower in female compared to male participants. Median (5th-95th percentile) time above IC
50 was 37.3% (16.9%-73.1%), 16.7% (8.2%-58.5%) and 9.6% (4.9%-38.4%) on days 1, 7 and 8, respectively. Clinical laboratory parameters indicated reduction of cell damage and development of hemolytic anemia in the course of the treatment period.
Conclusions
This observational study characterizes the pharmacokinetics of ribavirin in the treatment of Lassa fever indicating consistent exposure across patients. Whereas the only short time interval of concentrations above the IC
50 implies rather low antiviral efficacy
in vivo, the prominent reduction of cell damage markers might point to indirect – potentially anti-inflammatory – effects of ribavirin. The role of ribavirin in the treatment of Lassa fever requires further scrutiny.
