BackgroundPeramivir is an intravenously administered neuraminidase inhibitor for influenza. The clinical efficacy of peramivir remains unclear because it is used in a limited number of countries. We compared the clinical efficacy of peramivir with that of oseltamivir in influenza patients during the 2012-2013 season.
MethodsThirty-two influenza patients who were hospitalized at Teikyo University Hospital, a teaching hospital in Tokyo, Japan, from October 2012 to March 2013 were enrolled. Among them, 23 and 9 were treated with peramivir and oseltamivir, respectively. The end points of this study were the time to defervescence and survival rate.
ResultsThere were no significant differences in the clinical backgrounds of the two groups. However, patients treated with peramivir tended to have a higher incidence of consciousness disturbance [34.8% (8/23) vs 0.00% (0/9), P=0.064]. There were no significant differences between the peramivir and oseltamivir groups with respect to the time to defervescence (30.918.7h vs 34.7 +/- 18.6h) or survival rate [95.7% (22/23) vs 100% (9/9), respectively].
ConclusionsThe clinical efficacy of peramivir is non-inferior to that of oseltamivir, although peramivir tended to be used in patients with serious complications. Intravenous administration of peramivir may be useful for patients with serious complications, such as consciousness disturbances.