Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

In spite of a concerted global effort, scientists have yet to find an effective treatment for SARS. A combination of antiviral drugs normally used to treat AIDS — lopinavir-ritonavir along with ribavirin — has been shown in clinical studies to prevent serious complications and deaths from SARS. However, further testing is needed.

References
  1. Hirsch MS, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
  2. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): Current SARS situation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nciDOD/sars/situation.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
  3. Hui DS, et al. Current features, pathogenesis and immunobiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 2008;14:241.
  4. Severe acute respiratory syndrome: Frequently asked questions about SARS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/faq.htm. Accessed Nov. 18, 2008.
  5. Frequently asked questions on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/csr/sars/sarsfaq/en. Accessed Nov. 18, 2008.
  6. Clinical, epidemiologic, and virologic features of SARS-CoV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/guidance/core/app1.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2008.
  7. Tansey CM, et al. One-year outcomes and health care utilization in survivors of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007;167:1312.
  8. Wong SS, et al. The management of coronavirus infections with particular reference to SARS. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2008;62:437.
  9. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Supplement F: Laboratory guidance. Diagnostic assays. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/guidance/F/assays.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2008.
  10. Chu CM, et al. Role of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of SARS: Initial virological and clinical findings. Thorax. 2004;59:252.
  11. Guidance about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for persons traveling to areas where SARS cases have been reported. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel_advice.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  12. Stockman LJ, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome in children. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2007;26:68.

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Jan. 6, 2009

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