1.
Scoping Review of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Literature and Implications of Future Research
Wahid B, Altaf S, Naeem N, Ilyas N, Idrees M
Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP. 2019;29(6):563-573
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is one of the severe forms of high-fatality hemorrhagic fever transmitted by bite of infected ticks or body fluids of infected individuals. Lack of sufficient research and endemic potential of the disease is posing serious threats to public health. The aim of this review was to explore the current status of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) related research and to identify knowledge gaps and the areas that are yet to be explored. An interpretative scoping review methodology was followed to systematically characterize the most recent literature. Literature survey was conducted using electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. This comprehensive research yielded more than 300 records, but we excluded 100 articles based on our inclusion criteria and duplicates removal. All articles (n=85) that have been published currently were discussed in this scoping review. From a total of 303 documents retrieved, 85 met the criteria. All the documents (case studies, review articles, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, case control studies, cohort studies, randomised control trials, and longitudinal studies) were included in the study. The articles mainly cover different areas such as epidemiology, prevalence, diagnosis, pathogenesis, clinical outcomes, molecular basis, phylogenetics, transmission and treatment of CCHF. Treatment and prevention related knowledge is limited; therefore, future research should focus the development of therapeutics to mitigate the increasing risk of CCHF. Priority future goal should be studies on the molecular basis and treatment of CCHFV infection because several knowledge gaps have been identified in these areas.
2.
Identification of the crucial parameters regarding the efficacy of ribavirin therapy in Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Arab-Bafrani Z, Jabbari A, Mostakhdem Hashemi M, Arabzadeh AM, Gilanipour A, Mousavi E
The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. 2019
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recently, ribavirin has been suggested as a therapeutic approach in Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) patients; however, there are controversial findings about its efficacy. In the current study, a meta-analysis was systematically performed to assess the effectiveness of ribavirin administration regarding CCHF patient survival and to explore the most important influential parameters for its efficacy. METHODS All of the outcomes of the clinically studied CCHF patients who were treated with ribavirin were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS Overall, 24 studies met our criteria. Although the studies did not have high quality there was no heterogeneity and publication bias across studies. The results indicated that the administration of ribavirin to CCHF patients significantly decreased the mortality rate (by 1.7-fold) compared with those who did not receive this medication. Furthermore, it was found that the prescription of ribavirin in the initial phase of disease was more effective, and a delay in the start of treatment resulted in a 1.6-fold increase in mortality rate. In addition, interventional therapy resulted in an approximately 2.3-fold reduction in the mortality rate of those who received ribavirin along with corticosteroids compared with those who were treated with ribavirin monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis reveals that ribavirin should be considered as a crucial antiviral drug in the therapeutic approach used for CCHF patients, especially in early phases of the disease. Additionally, it seems that the administration of corticosteroids alongside ribavirin can play an effective role in alleviation of the disease status, particularly in haemorrhagic phases.
3.
Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on platelet count in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a systematic review and meta- analysis
Franchini M, Cruciani M, Mengoli C, Pizzolo G, Veneri D
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2007;60((2):):237-246.
Abstract
Background: There is a debate in the recent literature about the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on platelet count in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In order to clarify this controversial issue, we performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of the available literature. Methods: The meta-analytic comparison was focused on the difference in the platelet count increase between the experimental arm (H. pylori- infected patients who responded to eradication therapy) and each control arm (H. pylori -infected patients who failed to respond to eradication therapy; H. pylori -infected patients who did not receive eradication therapy and H. pylori-negative patients) and was expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD). Moreover, in order to explain the heterogeneity, a meta-regression model was fitted with arm-level covariates. Results: Data involving 788 ITP patients were collected from 17 articles (16 studies with a prospective cohort design and 1 randomized trial). There was a statistically significant difference in the increase in platelet count in patients in whom eradication was successful compared with control groups (WMD, 40.77 × 10(9)/L (95% CI, 20.92-60.63) compared with untreated patients; 52.16 (95% CI, 34.26-70.05) compared with patients who failed eradication and 46.35 (95% CI, 27.79-64.91) compared with H. pylori -negative patients). Moreover, in the meta-regression model, the success of H. pylori eradication was highly significant as an explanatory variable for platelet count increase. Conclusions: Our analysis shows a strict correlation between H. pylori eradication and increase in platelet count. However, due to intrinsic limits in the design of the studies analysed, further evidence from randomized clinical trials is required to confirm the effect of eradication treatment on platelet count.