Treatment of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Abstract

Viruses in the genus Hantavirus can cause one of two serious illnesses when transmitted from rodents to humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Of the two diseases, HPS is more severe with an approximate 40% mortality across the Americas. The high rate of mortality could be reduced if effective therapeutics could be discovered for treatment of this illness. Herein we review approaches being explored for the discovery of therapeutics for HPS and how they could be employed in treatment and prevention of disease.

Fig. 1

Clinical course of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Fig. 2

Chest radiograph of an HPS patient. Portable, supine AP chest radiograph of a patient in the cardiopulmonary phase at the time of presentation to the critical care unit, showing diffuse alveolar filling and small, bilateral pleural effusions. The size of the cardiac silhouette appears normal. Within hours the patient required mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Courtesy G. Mertz, University of New Mexico.

Fig. 3

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation care of an HPS patient. An adult patient with HPS has been cannulated in the femoral artery and vein. The bed is elevated to improve the efficiency of the ECMO pump. Courtesy Mark Crowley, University of New Mexico.