Artesunate as a potent antiviral agent in a patient with late drug-resistant cytomegalovirus infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Clin Infect Dis. 2008 May 1;46(9):1455-7. doi: 10.1086/587106.

Abstract

This is the first report of treatment of cytomegalovirus infection with artesunate, for a stem cell transplant recipient with a newly identified foscarnet-resistant and ganciclovir-resistant DNA polymerase L776M mutation. Artesunate treatment resulted in a 1.7-2.1-log reduction in viral load by treatment day 7, with a viral half-life of 0.9-1.9 days, indicating a highly effective block in viral replication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Artemisinins / pharmacology
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use*
  • Artesunate
  • Child
  • Cytomegalovirus / drug effects
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / etiology
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Foscarnet / pharmacology
  • Foscarnet / therapeutic use
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Artemisinins
  • Foscarnet
  • Artesunate