WATCH OUT FOR RIBAVIRIN
April 21.2003
Some doctors in Hong Kong have been using this anti-viral drug to treat SARS patients. Maybe that strategy is upping the death stats in that part of the world. Ribavirin, manufactured by Roche and Schering-Plough, is used to treat hepatitis C, the virus no one can find. It is also used on babies with pneumonia. Paul J. Pockros, MD, wrote of ribavirin, "It is known that the triphosphate metabolite [breakdown product] of ribavirin accumulates in red blood cells and causes oxidative injury to red blood cell membranes..." Here is the warning that Roche itself posts on ribavirin (trade name Copegus): "Ribavirin, including Copegus, may cause birth defects and/or death of the fetus. Ribavirin causes hemolytic anemia...may result in a worsening of cardiac disease. Ribavirin is genotoxic and mutagenic and should be considered a carcinogen." Otherwise, you're in great shape. In the mainstream research community, this drug has received a mixed reaction as a treatment for SARS. But at least one study is being proposed, in which people diagnosed with SARS would be given ribaviurin. I hope they have plenty of clean blood on hand, so they can transfuse these human guinea pigs when the severe anemias set in. The killer chemo drugs can wait awhile, for when the cancers develop. Otherwise, no problem.
JON RAPPOPORT
