How is Lassa fever treated?

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa, with significant mortality rates and no universally approved treatments or vaccines. The primary treatment for Lassa fever is supportive care, with antiviral drugs and immune therapies being explored for efficacy.

Ribavirin, administered early during infection, has shown limited efficacy in treating Lassa fever in both humans and animal models .
Combination treatments, such as ribavirin with immune plasma or favipiravir, have been suggested to enhance survival rates in infected subjects, including cases where treatment was initiated at later stages of infection .
Oral ribavirin is considered for postexposure prophylaxis, although systematic data is lacking and guidelines are based on logical extrapolation of existing data .
Adjunct treatments, such as the anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone, have been used in conjunction with ribavirin to treat complicated cases of Lassa fever.
Favipiravir has been successfully used to treat Lassa virus infection in macaques, indicating potential for clinical use.
Human monoclonal antibody therapy has shown promise in protecting nonhuman primates against advanced Lassa fever and may be a viable treatment option.
There are rare reports of full recovery from Lassa fever without the use of ribavirin, suggesting that some individuals may survive with conservative management of symptoms and complications.

In conclusion, the primary antiviral treatment for Lassa fever is ribavirin, particularly when administered early in the course of the disease. Combination therapies and postexposure prophylaxis with ribavirin are also being explored. Emerging treatments, including favipiravir and human monoclonal antibodies, show promise in preclinical studies. However, the management of Lassa fever remains a challenge, and further research is needed to establish effective treatment protocols.

How is Lassa fever treated?

Summary

Sources and full results

Enhanced treatment of Lassa fever by immune plasma combined with ribavirin in cynomolgus monkeys.

Combining ribavirin with immune serum significantly enhances survival in Lassa fever-infected cynomolgus monkeys, suggesting it may benefit human patients as well.

Favipiravir and Ribavirin Treatment of Epidemiologically Linked Cases of Lassa Fever.

Favipiravir and ribavirin combination effectively treated two Lassa fever cases, but both patients developed transaminitis and had prolonged virus RNA in blood and semen, suggesting sexual transmission of the virus.

Management of Lassa Fever: A Current Update

Intravenous ribavirin is the most effective treatment for acute Lassa fever, with oral ribavirin recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis, but convalescent plasma is not recommended.

Use of Favipiravir to Treat Lassa Virus Infection in Macaques

Favipiravir, 300 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks, effectively treats Lassa virus infection in macaques.

Two Cases of Lassa Fever Successfully Treated with Ribavirin and Adjunct Dexamethasone for Concomitant Infections

Ribavirin and dexamethasone effectively treat complicated Lassa fever in Nigeria, with potential for future clinical trials.

Review of the Literature and Proposed Guidelines for the Use of Oral Ribavirin as Postexposure Prophylaxis for Lassa Fever

Oral ribavirin postexposure prophylaxis is recommended for definitive high-risk exposures to Lassa fever, potentially also for other hemorrhagic fever viruses susceptible to ribavirin.

Lassa Virus Treatment Options

Favipiravir and a human monoclonal antibody cocktail show potential for treating Lassa fever in preclinical animal models, but require further clinical trials for approval.

Human-monoclonal-antibody therapy protects nonhuman primates against advanced Lassa fever

Human monoclonal antibodies effectively protect 100% of cynomolgus macaques from advanced Lassa fever, providing a potential new treatment option for nonhuman primates.

Lassa fever. A study of 23 hospital cases.

Lassa fever is a severe virus infection with a high mortality rate, requiring antibiotics and supportive care, and no known cure.

Lassa fever - full recovery without ribavarin treatment: a case report.

Lassa fever can be fully recovered without ribavarin treatment, highlighting the potential for individuals to survive the disease with conservative management of symptoms and complications.

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