COMBINED ANTIVIRAL AND ANTIMEDIATOR TREATMENT OF RHINOVIRUS COLDS

An antiviral agent and two antiinflammatory compounds were used in a blinded, placebo-controlled study to treat experimental rhinovirus colds. Intranasal interferon-alpha2b and ipratropium and oral naproxen were begun 24 h after rhinovirus inoculation. Treatment was continued three times a day for 4 days. Viral shedding (mean +/- SE) was 4.4 +/- 0.3 days for controls and 2.9 +/- 0.3 days for treated volunteers (P < .003). Geometric mean virus titers were reduced in the treated group on all days (P = .02-.06). Serum antibody responses and postinfection geometric mean antibody titers were similar in both groups (P > .1). Colds developed in 6 of 16 treated and 7 of 8 control subjects (P = .05). Mean total symptom scores (P = .055), rhinorrhea (P < .01), cough (P < .01), and malaise (P < .001) were reduced in treated subjects. Trends in reduction of nasal obstruction and sore throat also favored the treated group. Nasal secretion weights were 12.9 +/- 4.8 g in treated and 20.3 +/- 5.4 g in control subjects (P = .4). Medications were well tolerated.