Pulmonary toxicity associated with high-dose favipiravir and treatment options: biochemical and histopathological evaluation.

Favipiravir is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug that is a viral RNAdependent RNA polymerase inhibitor. Favipiravir is used in high doses to treat COVID-19 but has a side effect on humans at high doses. The side effects of favipiravir have been associated with oxidative stress in the literature. In this trial, we investigated the biochemical and histopathological effects of lacidipine, thiamine pyrophosphate (TTP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), drugs with antioxidant properties, on the lung toxicity caused by high -dose favipiravir in rats. The rats were classified into five groups: healthy (HG), favipiravir alone (Fav), lacidipine+favipiravir (LFav), TPP+favipiravir (TFav), and ATP+favipiravir (AFav). Favipiravir (800 mg/kg) was administered twice daily for seven days. Lacidipine (4 mg/kg), TPP (20 mg/kg), and ATP (25 mg/kg) were administered once daily for seven days. Oxidant (malondialdehyde), non -enzymatic (total glutathione), and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase and catalase) antioxidant levels were measured in the excised lung tissues. Furthermore, the tissues were histopathologically examined. The systemic administration of high doses of favipiravir increased oxidant levels and decreased antioxidant levels in the lung tissue of rats.