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British Medical Bulletin 41:381-385 (1985)
© 1985 The British Council

research-article

INFLUENZA — RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT

A.W. Galbraith

Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals Division Horsham, West Sussex

Abstract

Currently no widespread attempt is made to control influenza by vaccination or chemotherapy. Individuals at special risk can choose to recieve vaccine, but protection may only be of the order of 40–50%. Many chemical agents having anti-fluenza action have been investigated but very few have been of value clinically. Amantadine, both orally and by aerosol, has been shown to provide significant protection when taken prophylactically, and to produce more rapid resolution of clinical signs and symptoms when administered therapeutically. Rimantadine has similar properties to amantadine but side efects with the former are less frequent when the same daily dose of both is given. Ribavirin is effective against a wide spectrum of RNA- and DNA-containing viruses, but suspected toxicity when taken orally has hindered further reserach. The results of experiments involving intranasally instilled interferon have been varied, but a recent study with lymphoblastoid interferon demonstrated a highly significant protective effect against influenza A/Eng/40/83 virus challenge. Muramyl peptide MTP-PE, has been shown to have prophylactic and therapeutic activity in experimental virus infections and appears worthy of further study.


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