Intravenous ribavirin therapy for adenovirus pneumonia

We report on the effectiveness of intravenous ribavirin for severe adenovir al pneumonia in a 10-month-old male following orthotopic liver transplantat ion. On day 20 posttransplantation, he developed high fever, marked respira tory compromise, and hypoxemia. The chest radiograph showed bilateral pulmo nary infiltrates. Samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid grew adenovirus, serotype 1. Marked clinical and radiological improvement was noted after in travenous ribavirin therapy. A prospective clinical trial is needed to dete rmine the efficacy of ribavirin therapy for severe adenovirus disease. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.