title: Effect of foscarnet cream on experimental UV radiation-induced herpes labialis.
abstract: A topical 3% foscarnet cream formulation was evaluated for its ability to treat experimental UV radiation (UVR)-induced herpes labialis in a double-blind study. Healthy adult volunteers with a history of sunlight-induced herpes labialis were randomly assigned at four centers to receive either foscarnet cream (n = 152) or a vehicle control (n = 150). Following measurement of the minimal erythematous dose (MED), the subjects' lips were exposed to 4 MEDs of UV light. Subjects applied the cream on the UVR-exposed area approximately eight times daily beginning immediately after UVR exposure and continuing for 7 days, or until all lesions had a minimum of 4 days of treatment. There were no significant differences between groups in the percentages of subjects that developed any lesion, aborted lesions (did not progress beyond a papule), immediate lesions (developed within 48 h of UVR), or delayed classic lesions (developed 48 h to 7 days after UVR). Treatment with foscarnet significantly reduced the mean lesion area (49 versus 81 mm2; P = 0.01), the maximum lesion area (80 versus 141 mm2; P = 0.01), and the time to healing (P = 0.03) of the delayed classic lesions (n = 78). There was also a trend for a decrease in the mean duration of these lesions (156 versus 191 h; P = 0.08) and the duration of pain (3.9 versus 4.3 days; P = 0.06) in foscarnet-treated subjects. There were no clinically significant adverse reactions. These data suggest that topical foscarnet can be efficacious and deserves further evaluation for the treatment of herpes labialis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. dib@chmcc.org
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schleupner
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Blumberg
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grafford
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Broberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin-Munley
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Spruance
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D018139:Simplexvirus; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009824:Ointments; D017245:Foscarnet