Influence of 3 Antiviral Drugs on the Hemoglobin Concentration and Reticulocyte Count in the Peripheral Blood of the Rabbit

Objective To assess the effects of 3 commonly used antiviral drugs ribavirin,ganciclovir and vidarabine monophosphate on the erythropoiesis in the rabbits. Methods 20 male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 equal groups A,B,C and D.Rabbits of the group A,B,C and D were given each an IV injection of 15 mg·kg~(-1) of ribavirin,10 mg·kg~(-1) of ganciclovir, 10 mg·kg~(-1) of vidarabine monophosphate and 2 mL of 0.9%sodium chloride solution q.d.respectively,for 14 consecutive days.Changes in the hemoglobin concentration(Hb) and reticalocyte count(Ret) of the peripheral blood were kept under observation every 4 days. Results There was a striking decrease in Hb and a prominent increase in Ret that began from the 4~(th) day of treatment in rabbits of group A and the data began to return to normal levels gradually 7 days after the discontinuation of the medication.In animals of group B,Hb showed no apparent changes while Ret was slightly increased and declined 1 week after the discontinuation of the drug.In rabbits of group C,there was a gradual decrease in Ret that rose again a bit 1 week after the discontinuation of the drug.No apparent changes in Hb and Ret were noticed in rabbits of group D. Conclusion The 3 commonly used antiviral drugs ribavirin,ganciclovir and vidaraline monophosphate were shown to exert deleterious effects in varying degrees on hemopoiesis in the rabbit and care should be taken in the clinical application of the three drugs.