ACYCLOVIR THERAPY FOR MUCOCUTANEOUS HERPES SIMPLEX INFECTIONS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(81)92569-1

The Lancet

Volume 317, Issue 8235, 27 June 1981, Pages 1389-1392

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(81)92569-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

11 of 24 immunocompromised patients with mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections were given intravenous acyclovir in a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study. Patients receiving acyclovir experienced no major adverse effects. The median times to cessation of new lesion formation, lesion crusting, lesion healing, cessation of pain, and termination of viral shedding were shorter in the acyclovir-treated group than in the placebo group. The time-to-event probability curves for the acyclovir and placebo groups were significantly different for cessation of pain (p = 0.032) and termination of viral shedding (p = 0.004). The median times to termination of viral shedding were also statistically different (p = 0.045). Acyclovir seems to be a non-toxic and effective treatment for mucocutaneous HSV infections in immunocompromised patients.

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Citation Excerpt :
IV ACV (250 mg/m2 every 8 hours) versus placebo used to treat 97 immunocompromised patients (after marrow and other organ transplantation) showed reduced duration of HSV shedding (2.8 versus 16.8 days), faster healing (9.3 versus 13.5 days), and reduced pain.108 This was confirmed in other studies.109,110 Because patients undergoing chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies have a high tendency to develop recrudescent HSV infections, management was directed toward prophylaxis in this group of patients.
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ACYCLOVIR THERAPY FOR MUCOCUTANEOUS HERPES SIMPLEX INFECTIONS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Abstract

Lancet

Infection with herpes-simplex viruses 1 and 2

N Engl J Med

9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl) guanine activity against viruses of the herpes group

Nature

Selectivity of action of an antiherpetic agent, 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl) guanine

Proc Natl Acad Sci

Growth inhibition by acycloguanosine of herpesviruses isolated from human infections

Antimicrob Ag Chemother