title: A double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of acyclovir cream in immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster.
abstract: Sixty-four patients with herpes zoster were entered into a randomised double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of 5% acyclovir cream applied five times daily for 5 days. Of these patients, 56 were included in the final analysis (26 acyclovir, 30 placebo). Significant and objective differences in either progression of the rash, severity of acute pain or incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia were not observed. Although significantly more rashes involuted in the acyclovir group, this isolated finding cannot be explained. Twenty-two patients (12 acyclovir, 10 placebo) experienced erythema or desquamation or both during treatment with the cream. The similar incidence of skin reactions in both groups suggests that they were related to the cream base rather than the acyclovir.
authors.affiliation: Regional Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Monsall Hospital, Manchester, U.K.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dowd
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D000212:Acyclovir