Severe Coxsackie virus B infection in preterm newborns treated with pleconaril

Four preterm newborn infants with severe multisystem Coxsackie virus B infection were treated with an oral suspension of pleconaril (5 mg/kg per day). The patients had myocarditis, fulminant hepatitis, meningoencephalitis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. All four infants recovered, and no adverse effects of the treatment were noted. Conclusion: pleconaril needs to be comprehensively evaluated in this population.