Improving the care of Lassa fever patients: re-evaluating the use of Ribavirin and characterising cardiovascular function

Thesis

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever, endemic to several West African countries. Case fatality rates average 30% across the literature. Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, has been used to treat Lassa fever for four decades. Ribavirin is a pro-drug, metabolised to its active molecules intracellularly. Ribavirin has multiple different mechanisms of action. Ribavirin also has immunomodulatory effects. These antiviral and immunomodulatory effects appear to be cell- and dose- dep...

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Authors: Salam, A

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-aoxayvnnj
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: respiratory failure; Ribavirin; ARDS; shock; therapy; Lassa
• Subjects: Lassa fever