Oral Ribavirin for Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Lung Transplantation Recipients

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe respiratory infection and is a risk factor for development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in patients who have undergone lung transplantation (LT). The treatment options are limited in this population. We assessed the efficacy of oral administration for the treatment of RSV infection after LT.

A retrospective case-control was conducted in LT patients who documented RSV infection. Demographic, clinical, and efficacy variables (resolution infection, recovery of lung function, incidence of BOS, mortality) was compared between the oral ribavirin (RBV) group and the control group.

Thirty-six LT patients were included (19 RBV group, 17 control group). Significant differences were found for age, sex and coinfections. However, no differences of immunosuppressive level and baseline forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV₁) were found. RSV clearance was evident in 5 patients (26.3%) of the RBV group vs 2 patients (11.8%) in the control group (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; P = .282). At 3 months, FEV₁ remained stable in 12 patients (80%) of the RBV group vs 13 patients (81.3%) of the control group (OR, 0.92; P = .321). At 6 months, FEV₁ remained stable in 11 patients (73.3%) of the RBV group and 12 patients (75%) of the control group (OR, 1.25; P = .779), and BOS appeared in 6 patients (31.6%) vs 4 patients (23.5%) of the control group (OR, 1.50; P = .591). Mortality rates were 26% (5 patients) in the RBV group vs 29.4% (5 patients) in the control group (OR, 1.40; P = .637).

No significant differences in efficacy parameters were found between groups; however, stabilization without worsening of respiratory function was observed at 3 and 6 months. Because of the variability in the treatment regimen and the heterogeneity of groups, a protocol was developed to standardize and evaluate the use of oral RBV as treatment for RSV in LT.