Favipiravir-induced fever in coronavirus disease 2019: A report of two cases

Hiroyuki Takoi; Yuki Togashi; Daiki Fujimori; Haruki Kaizuka; Shunsuke Otsuki; Takuya Wada; Yoshikazu Takeuchi; Shinji Abe

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1450

Favipiravir-induced fever in coronavirus disease 2019: A report of two cases

Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Dec:101:188-190. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1450. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Authors

Hiroyuki Takoi¹, Yuki Togashi², Daiki Fujimori³, Haruki Kaizuka⁴, Shunsuke Otsuki⁵, Takuya Wada⁶, Yoshikazu Takeuchi⁷, Shinji Abe⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: taco155485@hotmail.com.
² Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: togashiy@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
³ Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: fujimorifugusashifugufugu@yahoo.co.jp.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: fj0e.h.k@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Hematology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: i4112356@gmail.com.
⁶ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: wwwtk0820@yahoo.co.jp.
⁷ Department of Cardiology and Division of Preemptive Medicine for Vascular Damage, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: yoshi.c603@gmail.com.
⁸ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: sabe@tokyo-med.ac.jp.

Abstract

Favipiravir, an antiviral agent, is undergoing clinical trials for treating novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report two cases of COVID-19 with favipiravir-induced fever. In both cases, pyrexia was observed following the administration of favipiravir despite improvements in symptoms of COVID-19. No other cause for fever was evident after careful physical examination and laboratory investigation. The fever subsided in both patients after the discontinuation of favipiravir. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of favipiravir-induced fever in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Drug fever; Favipiravir.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Amides / administration & dosage
Amides / adverse effects*
Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
Body Temperature
COVID-19 / physiopathology
COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / etiology*
Female
Fever / etiology*
Fever / physiopathology
Humans
Male
Pyrazines / administration & dosage
Pyrazines / adverse effects*
SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Amides
Antiviral Agents
Pyrazines
favipiravir