A prospective study of the effects of acyclovir treatment on the HSV-2 lymphoproliferative response of persons with frequently recurring HSV-2 genital infections.
In a randomized double-blinded fashion, herpes simplex virus type 2 specific lymphocyte proliferation (HSV-2-LP) was studied in patients with frequently recurring genital HSV-2 who were administered daily suppressive oral acyclovir (S-ACV) or placebo and acyclovir for 5 d (PLC/ACV) with recurrences. The pretreatment HSV-2-LP of subjects was low compared with that of controls with infrequently recurring genital HSV-2 (54,000 vs. 110,000 cpm). The HSV-2-LP increased with both S-ACV and PLC/ACV (101,000 and 94,000 cpm, respectively). After treatment was stopped, the HSV-2-LP decreased in both groups (59,000 cpm). Similar data were seen in a subpopulation given a second year of S-ACV. HSV recurrences were reduced in the S-ACV but not in the PLC/ACV group. These data suggest that a low HSV-2-LP in untreated patients is associated with frequent recurrences of genital HSV; a reduction of viral antigens by suppression with ACV or early treatment of HSV recurrences augments the HSV-2-LP response; and the recurrence pattern is not modulated by the HSV-2-LP response.
Frenkel
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
Pineda
E
E
Garratty
E
E
Fall
H
H
Dillon
M
M
Bryson
Y
Y
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000212:Acyclovir