UV light-induced reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2 and prevention by acyclovir.
UV B light is a potent stimulus for inducing reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. Patients were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial to determine whether acyclovir can prevent UV light-induced HSV-2 recurrences. Twenty-four patients with a history of recurrent infection of perigenital sites (e.g., buttock, thigh) were exposed one to four times with 4 minimum erythema doses of UV light. Patients were given acyclovir 200 mg orally five times daily or matched placebo beginning 1 day before each exposure and continuing for 5 days after exposure. There were 13 UV-induced recurrences among 36 placebo treatments and 3 after 38 acyclovir treatments (P = .004). The mean time to recurrence (+/- SE) was 4.8 +/- 0.3 days. HSV-2 lesions developed primarily at the site of UV exposure. The cutaneous distribution and timing of UV-induced recurrences was consistent with a neural localization (dorsal root ganglia) of latent viral infection. This UV light model permits direct examination of events leading to HSV-2 recurrences in humans and can be used to evaluate approaches to prevention.
Rooney
J F
JF
Laboratory of Oral Medicine, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Straus
S E
SE
Mannix
M L
ML
Wohlenberg
C R
CR
Banks
S
S
Jagannath
S
S
Brauer
J E
JE
Notkins
A L
AL
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
D000212:Acyclovir