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The current outburst of a new H1N1 swine influenza strain(s) in México and the United States is causing great concern in health authorities and in the general population. With the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting the pandemic potential of the new strain, it is necessary o determine which therapeutic options are available until a specific vaccine is available. Based on information from the Centre for Disease Control CDC), the virus is sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. Antivirals are strongly affected by viral mutations; thus their efficiency could be lost as the virus changes. The cytokine hypothesis proposes that the host immune system and autoinflammation is the main cause underlying respiratory distress in severe cases of influenza. The “cytokine storm” is a consequence of disregulated immune responses to the virus. Influenza virus employs human signaling pathways to replicate, interfering with normal cell physiology and leading to undesired effects such as overinduction of cytokines and chemokines. Host intracellular signaling pathways or host immune mediators, blocked by immunomodulatory drugs, are not affected by viral mutations and therefore may be suitable targets for treating severe influenza patients. A wide range of immunomodulatory drugs have been proposed for influenza treatment, but there is limited experience in their use in this context.

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2009-05-13   |   1,443 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 3 Núm.3. Abril 2009 Pags. 159-161. J Infect Developing Countries 2009; 3(3)