Second hong kong search, a combination of antivirals interferon beta-1b, lopinavir–ritonavir (medicine used against the HIV virus) and ribavirin (often used in cases of hepatitis C) may be a promising treatment against new coronavirus. The research was carried out by six hospitals in Hong Kong and published in the renowned scientific journal The Lancet.
However, the study only looked at milder and moderate cases of the virus. In the research, 127 patients were observed, with an average age of 52 years, divided into two groups: one with 86 people and another with 41. The first group received the full cocktail and, seven days after starting treatment, virus proliferation was reduced.
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The second group, the control, treated only with lopinavir–ritonavir, had a longer reduction in the virus, with about twelve days. In addition, the triple combination also generated good results at patient discharge: the first group was released in nine days, and the second, in up to 14.5.
When treated with the cocktail, the symptoms also disappeared faster and within four days people have already seen a sudden improvement in their cases. With the use of lopinavir–ritonavir alone, the time taken for symptoms to disappear was doubled.
According to the researchers, a third phase of the research will still be carried out. “A next phase with interferon beta-1b and a third placebo group should be considered, because the comparisons between subgroups pointed out that interferon beta-1b is a key component in our treatment for combination. The lack of patients in serious condition did not allow the generalization of the findings to more severe cases”, explains the study.
In the most severe cases, New York researchers discovered that anticoagulants can improve the chances of survival of those infected, working as a treatment and not just prevention.
The study was carried out by specialists from the Mount Sinai Hospital, in New York and pointed out that the treatment with the use of oral, subcutaneous or intravenous anticoagulants can improve the survival time of patients in severe cases of illness. In addition, blood thinners can prevent deadly events associated with the coronavirus, such as heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolism.
Since the study does not bring conclusive results, further research on the subject is still needed to find new treatments for virus. Currently, there are more than 100 vaccine projects and about 200 drugs in the testing phase for the treatment of patients infected with the new coronavirus.
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