Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Published on: April 4, 2019
Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis
Ruben Boogaard1, Anthon R Hulsmann2, Leoniek van Veen3
1Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherland.
Insights
Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) did not shorten hospital stays or reduce oxygen needs for infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. This study found no significant benefits in treating RSV bronchiolitis with rhDNase.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Viral Respiratory Infections
- Pharmacological Interventions
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infants often requires hospitalization and supportive care.
- Current treatments like bronchodilators and steroids do not effectively shorten hospital stays.
- Viscous mucus and free DNA in RSV infections contribute to hypoxia and airway obstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of nebulized recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) as a mucolytic agent.
- To determine if rhDNase can reduce the length of hospital stay in infants with RSV bronchiolitis.
- To assess secondary outcomes including oxygen duration and symptom improvement.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted.
- 225 oxygen-dependent infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis were enrolled.
- Participants received either nebulized rhDNase (2.5 mg twice daily) or placebo until hospital discharge.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was observed in the length of hospital stay between the rhDNase and placebo groups (p = 0.19).
- The duration of supplemental oxygen also showed no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.07).
- There were no significant improvements in symptom scores or reductions in intensive care admissions.
Conclusions:
- Nebulized rhDNase administration did not reduce hospital stay duration for infants with RSV bronchiolitis.
- rhDNase did not decrease the need for supplemental oxygen in this patient population.
- The study concluded that rhDNase is not effective for managing hospitalized infants with RSV bronchiolitis.
Background:
Treatment of hospitalized infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is mainly supportive. Bronchodilators and systemic steroids are often used but do not reduce the length of hospital stay. Because hypoxia and airways obstruction develop secondary to viscous mucus in infants with RSV bronchiolitis, and because free DNA is present in RSV mucus, we tested the efficacy of the mucolytic drug recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase).
Methods:
In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial, 225 oxygen-dependent infants admitted to the hospital for RSV bronchiolitis were randomly assigned to receive 2.5 mg bid of nebulized rhDNase or placebo until discharge. The primary end point was length of hospital stay. Secondary end points were duration of supplemental oxygen, improvement in symptom score, and number of intensive care admissions.
Results:
There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to the length of hospital stay (p = 0.19) or the duration of supplemental oxygen (p = 0.07). The ratio (rhDNase/placebo) of geometric means of length of stay was 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.33); for the duration of supplemental oxygen, the ratio was 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.68). There were no significant differences in the rate of improvement of the symptom score or in the number of intensive care admissions.
Conclusions:
Administration of rhDNase did not reduce the length of hospital stay or the duration of supplemental oxygen in oxygen-dependent infants with RSV bronchiolitis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III

