Combination treatment with ribavirin and interferon for coxsackievirus B3 replication.

The effects of combined treatment with ribavirin and recombinant human leukocyte interferon-alpha A/D against Coxsackievirus B3 replication were investigated in cultured cells. Recombinant human leukocyte interferon-alpha A/D was applied 12 hours before Coxsackievirus B3 inoculation and ribavirin was applied 1 hour after Coxsackievirus B3 inoculation on FL (human amnion) cell monolayers. These drugs inhibited Coxsackievirus B3 replication synergistically by plaque-reduction assay. This method of applying drugs may be useful in preventing and treating Coxsackie B virus infection.