Biomaterial Database

Ribavirin aerosol in the elderly. 1988

H P Liss, and J Bernstein

Department of Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH.

Ribavirin aerosol is effective in treating respiratory syncytial virus and influenzal infections in children and young adults. It has not been studied in elderly patients. We evaluated the safety of ribavirin aerosol in eight elderly volunteers at high risk for influenza. Their mean age was 64 years; seven subjects had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects received ribavirin aerosol for two or six hours with six hours between treatments. Regimens were continued for 96 hours. The drug was well tolerated. Subjects receiving ribavirin for 2 hours demonstrated a significant decrease in their forced expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow rate and flow over the middle 50 percent of the forced vital capacity. These changes were small and the subjects' symptoms remained stable. Subjects receiving ribavirin for 6 hours had no significant changes in pulmonary function. We conclude that ribavirin aerosol is safe in elderly patients with underlying COPD.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D008173	Lung Diseases, Obstructive	Any disorder marked by obstruction of conducting airways of the lung. AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION may be acute, chronic, intermittent, or persistent.	Obstructive Lung Diseases,Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases,Lung Disease, Obstructive,Obstructive Lung Disease,Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,Pulmonary Disease, Obstructive,Pulmonary Diseases, Obstructive
D008297	Male		Males
D008448	Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate	The airflow rate measured during the first liter expired after the first 200 ml have been exhausted during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination. Common abbreviations are MEFR, FEF 200-1200, and FEF 0.2-1.2.	Forced Expiratory Flow 0.2-1.2,Forced Expiratory Flow 200-1200,Flow Rate, Maximal Expiratory,MEFR,Forced Expiratory Flow 0.2 1.2,Forced Expiratory Flow 200 1200
D008450	Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate	Measurement of rate of airflow over the middle half of a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination (from the 25 percent level to the 75 percent level). Common abbreviations are MMFR and FEF 25%-75%.	Forced Expiratory Flow 025-075 Percent,FEF 25-75 Percent,Flow Rate, Maximal Midexpiratory,MMFR,25-75 Percent, FEF,25-75 Percents, FEF,FEF 25 75 Percent,FEF 25-75 Percents,Forced Expiratory Flow 025 075 Percent,Percent, FEF 25-75,Percents, FEF 25-75
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D001993	Bronchodilator Agents	Agents that cause an increase in the expansion of a bronchus or bronchial tubes.	Bronchial-Dilating Agents,Bronchodilator,Bronchodilator Agent,Broncholytic Agent,Bronchodilator Effect,Bronchodilator Effects,Bronchodilators,Broncholytic Agents,Broncholytic Effect,Broncholytic Effects,Agent, Bronchodilator,Agent, Broncholytic,Agents, Bronchial-Dilating,Agents, Bronchodilator,Agents, Broncholytic,Bronchial Dilating Agents,Effect, Bronchodilator,Effect, Broncholytic,Effects, Bronchodilator,Effects, Broncholytic
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000336	Aerosols	Colloids with a gaseous dispersing phase and either liquid (fog) or solid (smoke) dispersed phase; used in fumigation or in inhalation therapy; may contain propellant agents.	Aerosol