Effects of a Single Dose of Ivermectin on Viral and Clinical Outcomes in Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infected Subjects: A Pilot Clinical Trial in Lebanon
Ali A Samaha, Hussein Mouawia, Mirna Fawaz, Hamad Hassan, Ali Salami, Ali Al Bazzal, Hamid Bou Saab, Mohamed Al-Wakeel, Ahmad Alsaabi, Mohamad Chouman, Mahmoud Al Moussawi, Hassan Ayoub, Ali Raad, Ola Hajjeh, Ali H Eid, Houssam Raad
Viruses, doi:10.3390/v13060989
Objective: This study was designed to determine the efficacy of ivermectin, an FDAapproved drug, in producing clinical benefits and decreasing the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic subjects that tested positive for this virus in Lebanon. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 100 asymptomatic Lebanese subjects that have tested positive for SARS-CoV2. Fifty patients received standard preventive treatment, mainly supplements, and the experimental group received a single dose (according to body weight) of ivermectin, in addition to the same supplements the control group received. Results: There was no significant difference (p = 0.06) between Ct-values of the two groups before the regimen was started (day zero), indicating that subjects in both groups had similar viral loads. At 72 h after the regimen started, the increase in Ct-values was dramatically higher in the ivermectin than in the control group. In the ivermectin group, Ct increased from 15.13 ± 2.07 (day zero) to 30.14 ± 6.22 (day three; mean ± SD), compared to the control group, where the Ct values increased only from 14.20 ± 2.48 (day zero) to 18.96 ± 3.26 (day three; mean ± SD). Moreover, more subjects in the control group developed clinical symptoms. Three individuals (6%) required hospitalization, compared to the ivermectin group (0%). Conclusion: Ivermectin appears to be efficacious in providing clinical benefits in a randomized treatment of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects, effectively resulting in fewer symptoms, lower viral load and reduced hospital admissions. However, larger-scale trials are warranted for this conclusion to be further cemented.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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'abstract': '<jats:p>Objective: This study was designed to determine the efficacy of ivermectin, an '
'FDA-approved drug, in producing clinical benefits and decreasing the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 '
'among asymptomatic subjects that tested positive for this virus in Lebanon. Methods: A '
'randomized controlled trial was conducted in 100 asymptomatic Lebanese subjects that have '
'tested positive for SARS-CoV2. Fifty patients received standard preventive treatment, mainly '
'supplements, and the experimental group received a single dose (according to body weight) of '
'ivermectin, in addition to the same supplements the control group received. Results: There '
'was no significant difference (p = 0.06) between Ct-values of the two groups before the '
'regimen was started (day zero), indicating that subjects in both groups had similar viral '
'loads. At 72 h after the regimen started, the increase in Ct-values was dramatically higher '
'in the ivermectin than in the control group. In the ivermectin group, Ct increased from 15.13 '
'± 2.07 (day zero) to 30.14 ± 6.22 (day three; mean ± SD), compared to the control group, '
'where the Ct values increased only from 14.20 ± 2.48 (day zero) to 18.96 ± 3.26 (day three; '
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'individuals (6%) required hospitalization, compared to the ivermectin group (0%). Conclusion: '
'Ivermectin appears to be efficacious in providing clinical benefits in a randomized treatment '
'of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects, effectively resulting in fewer symptoms, lower '
'viral load and reduced hospital admissions. However, larger-scale trials are warranted for '
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