[Antiviral and therapeutic action of protease inhibitors in viral infections: experimental and clinical observations].

The effect of protease inhibitors (gordox, contrycal, epsilon-aminocapronic acid) on the development of influenza virus-induced infectious process was studied. Administration of the above-mentioned drugs exerted a marked antiviral and therapeutic effect both in animal experiments and in treatment of children suffering from influenza. Electron microscopic examinations of lungs from influenza virus-infected animals treated with protease inhibitors revealed definite decrease in the number of virus particles and significant diminution of pathological lesions; the changes were noted which indicated activation of the body immune response. The use of a protease inhibitor, epsilon-aminocapronic acid, in children with influenza shortened the duration of influenza virus antigens persistence in the nasopharyngeal epithelium and reduced the duration of the disease symptoms by 1 1/2-2-fold. Administration of epsilon-aminocapronic acid in inhalations exerted most effective antiviral and therapeutic effect. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of influenza treatment with inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes.