Interferon Alfacon-1 Plus Corticosteroids in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new infectious disease, probable cases of which are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization criteria of fever (temperature >38°C), lower respiratory tract symptoms, abnormal chest radiograph results, and laboratory evidence of the Urbani strain of SARS-associated coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV).^1,2 As of September 26, 2003, the World Health Organization had recorded a cumulative number of 8098 SARS cases and 774 SARS-related deaths from 27 countries.³ Treatment strategies have included empirical antibiotic therapy, intravenous and oral ribavirin, corticosteroids, and intravenous immunoglobulin.^4-6 However, no compelling evidence exists that these strategies improve clinical outcome, and use of ribavirin has been associated with significant toxic effects.⁶