Intravenous acyclovir to treat mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection after marrow transplantation: a double-blind trial.
Acyclovir, a new antiviral agent, was compared to a placebo in a randomized double-blind trial of treatment for culture-proven herpes simplex virus infection after marrow transplantation. Patients received either intravenous acyclovir at 750 mg/m2 body surface area per day or a placebo for 7 days. Thirteen of 17 patients given acyclovir had a beneficial response as compared with two of 17 given the placebo (p less than 0.01). The duration of positive cultures was shorter among acyclovir recipients (3 versus 17 days, p less than 0.00005). Also shorter were the median days to resolution of pain (10 versus 16 days, p = 0.03), to crusting of lesions (7 versus 14 days, p = 0.01), and to total healing (14 versus 28 days, p = 0.03). No acyclovir toxicity was observed. Recurrent infection was common. Acyclovir provided significant antiviral and clinical efficacy without toxicity in highly immunosuppressed patients but had no effect on virus latency.
D000212:Acyclovir; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D010919:Placebos; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010919:Placebos; D006147:Guanine; D000212:Acyclovir