Ribavirin and cellular ribavirin-triphosphate concentrations in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in two lung transplant patients with respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in the lung transplant population. Oral and aerosolized ribavirin may improve outcomes in lung transplant patients with RSV; however, data relating ribavirin concentrations in plasma and intracellular ribavirin triphosphate (iRTP) concentrations in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cells with efficacy and safety are lacking. We describe ribavirin and iRTP concentrations within various compartments in two adult lung transplant recipients with RSV who were sampled throughout successful treatment courses with oral and inhaled ribavirin. In patient 1, iRTP BAL concentrations decreased by 45% over 3 days after changing inhaled ribavirin to oral (6.32 to 3.43 pmol/10(6)cells). In patient 2, iRTP BAL concentrations were 103 pmol/10(6)cells after 5 days of oral followed by 5 days of inhaled ribavirin. Further study is needed to describe ribavirin pharmacokinetics in the respiratory compartment to inform clinical use of ribavirin for respiratory viruses.

Automated summary

Ribavirin may improve outcomes in lung transplant patients with RSV; however, further studies are needed to understand its pharmacokinetics in different respiratory compartments to guide clinical use for respiratory viruses.