The use of zanamivir to treat influenza A and B infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Summary:The use of zanamivir in seven patients with influenza (three A and four B) post allograft is described. Inhaled zanamivir (10 mg twice daily) was continued from the diagnosis of influenza until excretion of virus ceased (median duration 15 days, range 5 to 44 days). There was no toxicity attributable to zanamivir and rapid resolution of influenza symptoms was seen. There was no mortality due to influenza in the seven patients. The good outcome of 30 previous patients with influenza post transplant is described. A randomised multicentre study would be required to demonstrate efficacy.

The clinical features and outcome of 2009 H1N1 influenza infection in allo-SCT patients: a British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation study

“…Many single centres also report experience in treating respiratory viral infections after SCT, with a frequency of pneumonia of up to 80%, and 0-20% mortality associated with seasonal influenza A infection. [11][12][13][14][15] There are only limited reports of 2009 H1N1 influenza in SCT recipients and indeed our study is the largest cohort of Allo-SCT recipients infected with 2009 H1N1 influenza.…”

Respiratory Virus Infections in Children With Cancer or HIV Infection

“…40 Amantadine and neuranimidase inhibitors, zanamivir and oseltamivir, have been occasionally used to treat influenza infections in immunocompromised patients. 7,41,42 Early antiviral therapy with neuramimidase inhibitors seems to be effective to prevent the progression of infection to pneumonia and to decrease viral shedding, 7 but again, the limited number of cases does not allow definitive conclusions to be made.…”

Comparative Activities of Oseltamivir and A‐322278 in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Murine Models of Influenza Virus Infection

“…Although several case series indicate that neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor therapy may be beneficial [3][4][5], there have been no controlled, prospective studies of NA inhibitors in the…”