INTERFERON-ALPHA-2A FOR TREATMENT OF BRONCHIOLITIS CAUSED BY RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS

Alpha-2a-interferon (IFN) has been shown to provide important local de fense against some viral infections. In vitro, IFN inhibits the growth of respiratory syncytial virus in bovine monolayer cultures, but resp iratory syncytial virus is known to be a poor inducer of IFN in infect ed infants. When IFN was administered by daily intramuscular injection in a double blind, placebo-controlled study of 22 infants with bronch iolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus, there was no statistica lly significant difference in clinical course, duration of oxygen requ irement or physical assessment between the treatment and control group s. Likewise viral isolation showed no difference between the groups. F urther studies are needed to determine whether higher dosing or aeroso l or other alternative route of delivery of IFN might lead to therapeu tic benefit.