Influenza: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention - V.D. Moskaliuk 2010

Characteristics of patients with influenza A, influenza B, adenoviral and respiratory syncytial infections, as well as ARVI of undetermined etiology
Efficacy of aerosol interferon therapy in combination with Proteflazid

Proteflazid is a novel plant-derived therapeutic agent that inhibits DNA polymerase, thymidine kinase, and Reverse Transcriptase in virus-infected Cells. This leads to reduced efficiency or complete blockade of Viral METABOLISM/36.html">DNA Replication. Proteflazid also enhances The production of endogenous α- and γ-interferons, which boosts the body's non-specific resistance to VIRAL INFECTIONS AND improves the overall immune status of The Human Body [V.I. Matiash, A.O. Rudenko, 2004].

Combined administration of aerosol Interferon Therapy and PF demonstrated superior therapeutic outcomes compared to patients receiving aerosol interferon therapy alone.

The dynamics of clinical manifestations depended on the nosological form and the severity of intoxication. In patients with Influenza A, this therapy contributed to a more rapid resolution of clinical symptoms within the first three days. Fever, general fatigue, headache, and cough disappeared the fastest. The most persistent signs were lymphadenopathy and Conjunctivitis, observed in 56.6±6.2% and 60.0±7.3% of patients, respectively. However, within 4–6 days, these symptoms resolved in the vast majority of patients, whereas under standard Treatment, lymphadenitis persisted in all cases. The mean frequency of symptom resolution within 1–3 days under the proposed treatment regimen was (72.7±7.2)%. The difference in this indicator between the groups receiving standard and proposed treatments was statistically significant (P<0.001).

In patients with influenza B, the clinical efficacy of 500 thousand IU of L combined with PF was similar to that observed in influenza A. Within 1–3 days of treatment, the proportion of patients showing resolution of main clinical symptoms was also significantly higher compared to standard therapy (ST). There was a trend toward greater clinical efficacy of the proposed treatment in patients with influenza B compared to those with influenza A. The mean frequency of symptom resolution within 1–3 days of treatment with the L-500 and PF combination was (70.6±7.2)%, which was statistically significantly higher than that of standard treatment (P<0.001).

In patients with adenoviral (AI) and respiratory syncytial (RS) viral infections, the combination of aerosol interferon therapy and Proteflazid also proved effective within 1–3 days of treatment. The proportion of patients exhibiting resolution of the investigated symptoms within this observation period was significantly greater in the groups receiving aerosol interferon therapy combined with Proteflazid than in those receiving standard therapy. Fever, general fatigue, nasal congestion, rhinitis, and cough resolved most frequently (P<0.001).

Lymphadenitis and conjunctivitis in AI patients resolved more slowly—at a frequency of (22.2±8.0)% and (29.6±8.8)%, respectively; in RS infection patients, the figures were (36.6±8.0)% and (56.6±8.8)%. Nevertheless, these outcomes were superior to those in the standard treatment group (P<0.05). The mean frequency of symptom resolution in AI patients after 1–3 days of the proposed therapy was (60.8±5.1)%, and in RS infection patients—(70.1±9.0)%, significantly exceeding the results of standard treatment (P<0.001).

In patients with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) of undetermined Etiology, fever, general fatigue, and cough also resolved within 1–3 days of treatment when aerosol interferon therapy was combined with Proteflazid.

As in the previous groups, the lowest resolution rates were observed for lymphadenitis and conjunctivitis, accounting for (23.4±7.7)% and (30.0±8.4)%, respectively. However, the outcomes were still superior to those of patients receiving standard therapy (P<0.05). The mean frequency of symptom resolution within 1–3 days of treatment with the combined use of 500 thousand IU of L and Proteflazid was (61.2±5.2)%, which was significantly higher than with standard treatment (P<0.001), though it did not differ significantly from patients with influenza A, B, and AI.

Thus, the administration of aerosol interferon therapy (laferon at a dose of 500 thousand IU daily for 3 consecutive days) combined with Proteflazid (10 drops 3 times daily) in patients with various ARVI resulted in a marked reduction in the frequency of Clinical symptoms of the pathology as early as 1–3 days compared to patients on standard therapy.

Aerosol interferon therapy in combination with PF also facilitated the rapid resolution of cardiovascular abnormalities. In influenza A patients, most corresponding symptoms (tachycardia, cardiac pain, systolic murmur at the apex, muffled Heart sounds, and arrhythmia) resolved more frequently within 1–3 days of treatment, whereas under standard treatment, these disorders persisted longer.

Similar results were obtained in patients with influenza B, AI, RS infection, and ARVI of undetermined etiology. These indicators were superior to those in the ST groups (P<0.05–0.01). The mean frequency of resolution of clinical cardiovascular signs within 1–3 days of treatment was (72.0±7.5)% for influenza A, (72.9±7.3)% for influenza B, (90.7±5.3)% for AI, (86.0±5.3)% for RS infection, and (85.3±6.12)% for ARVI of undetermined etiology, all of which were significantly higher than under standard treatment (P<0.001). In standardly treated patients, this indicator was only (23.3±5.0)% for influenza A, (24.6±5.6)% for influenza B, (46.0±7.5)% for AI, (38.0±7.5)% for RS infection, and (26.0±7.2)% for ARVI of undetermined etiology.

The combined use of L-500 and PF also exhibited a pronounced therapeutic effect on the dynamics of ECG changes. Specifically, the mean frequency of ECG normalization within 1–3 days of treatment in influenza A patients was (80.0±6.0)%, which was significantly higher than that in the standard treatment group—(13.8±5.3)% (P<0.001).

Similar outcomes were observed in groups with influenza B, AI, RS infection, and ARVI of undetermined etiology. The mean frequency of ECG changes resolving within 1–3 days of the proposed treatment was (82.3±6.7)% in influenza B, (86.0±6.6)% in AI, (80.1±6.6)% in RS infection, and (84.4±5.7)% in ARVI of undetermined etiology. In the standardly treated groups, these figures averaged (16.6±5.2)% for influenza B, (22.7±5.9)% for AI, (26.0±5.9)% for RS infection, and (23.2±6.7)% for ARVI of undetermined etiology. All values were significantly higher in patients receiving L-500 with PF compared to ST (P<0.001).

Thus, evaluating the effects of aerosol interferon therapy combined with PF on the course of ARVI of various etiologies demonstrated a significant reduction in the frequency of most cardiovascular symptoms within 1–3 days of treatment compared to standardly treated patients.

Aerosol interferon therapy combined with PF significantly contributed to the reduction of endogenous intoxication indices. The therapeutic results across all patient groups showed that the frequency of normalization of the leukocyte intoxication index (LII), leukocyte index (LI), and total leukocyte index (TLI) within 4–6 days was higher than in patients receiving standard treatment (P<0.001). The cumulative frequency of resolution of endogenous intoxication signs in influenza A patients at 4–6 days following L-500 and PF treatment was (90.0±5.1)%, in influenza B—(92.4±6.3)%, in AI—(92.5±4.8)%, in RS infection—(86.6±5.1)%, and in ARVI of undetermined etiology—(92.3±5.3)%, which differed significantly from patients on standard therapy (P<0.001). In the latter group, such a positive effect was achieved much later.

Therefore, aerosol interferon therapy combined with PF in patients with ARVI of various etiologies was accompanied by a decrease in the level of endogenous intoxication, reaching normal values in over 80% of patients within 4–6 days of treatment, whereas under standard therapy, this occurred later.