Posted on 04/23/2007 3:09:54 AM PDT by Lurker
April 20, Reuters — Tamiflu key to treat bird flu, avoid steroids. Bird flu patients who get early treatment with the antiviral drug Tamiflu have the best chances of surviving while using steroids can do more harm than good, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, April 20.
The WHO was reporting on the preliminary conclusions of international experts who met last month in Turkey to compare notes on treatments, including the attempt by doctors in some countries to use steroids as well. "Corticosteroid therapy has failed so far to show effectiveness," the WHO warned. "Prolonged or high dose corticosteroids can result in serious adverse events."
Frederick Hayden of WHO's global influenza program said some doctors, notably in Vietnam and Indonesia, had administered steroids to try to save quickly deteriorating bird flu patients. Eight of nine had died, he said, citing published research. The WHO reaffirmed that early treatment with Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, was useful in reducing death from the H5N1 virus. Giving it to people with advanced symptoms was also "warranted".
Source at link.
L
Thanks for the ping, Lurker.
As I recall, steroids didn’t help with SARS, either.
I seem to recall that, too. But this is the first time I've heard they could actually make a case of BF worse.
It's also the first time I've heard anyone 'official' say that Tami does any good at all.
Nice to see you about ma'am.
L
The first I've heard of this too. I thought in the advanced stage that Tamiflu just increased the 'CT storm.'
Not much news on this lately.
The "cytokine storm" hypothesis seems to link SARS and H5N1, at least the cases with respiratory failure.
I wonder if any of them got immunosuppressive drugs (Imuran or cyclosporine?)
ping...(Thanks, Lurker!)
thanks, bfl
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