Quantitation of herpes simplex DNA in blood during aciclovir therapy with competitive PCR ELISA.
BACKGROUND
Monitoring viral load in blood has already been introduced into clinical routine for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus.


OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to monitor the decline of herpes simplex (HSV) viral load in the blood of a patient with gingivostomatitis herpetica prior and during acyclovir therapy.


METHODS
Analysis was done by quantitative PCR ELISA using an internal quantitation standard.


RESULTS
Copy numbers were 66/microl blood prior to therapy, 60 during oral medication with valaciclovir, 97 and 72 copies/microl blood during the first 2 days of intravenous acyclovir therapy, followed by a sharp decline to 8 and 9 copies on days 3 and 4. During the following days, HSV was no longer detectable.


CONCLUSIONS
As this quantitative approach can be easily adjusted to any other PCR, it provides a reliable, easy-to-apply method for monitoring therapy, also during new antiviral clinical trials.
Bezold
G
G
Department of Dermatology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Gottlöber
P
P
Leiter
U
U
Kerscher
M
M
Krähn
G
G
Peter
R U
RU
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000212:Acyclovir