Application of a topical immune response modifier, resiquimod gel, to modify the recurrence rate of recurrent genital herpes: a pilot study.
Resiquimod (R-848), a topically active immune response modifier, induced production of interferon-alpha and interleukin-12 in cultured blood mononuclear cells and decreased genital herpes recurrences in an animal model. In this study, 52 patients with frequently recurrent genital herpes applied topical resiquimod gel 0.01% (twice or thrice weekly) or 0.05% (once or twice weekly) or vehicle gel to herpes lesions for 3 weeks. During the 6-month observation period after treatment, median days to first recurrence in the pooled resiquimod group was 169 days, compared with 57 days for the vehicle group (P=.0058). In all, 32% of resiquimod-treated patients completed the observation period without a recurrence, compared with 6% of vehicle-treated patients (P=.039). Resiquimod 0.05% twice weekly produced dose-limiting inflammation at the lesion sites, but the other regimens were well tolerated. Application of resiquimod to genital herpes lesions appeared to reduce the frequency of recurrences.
Spruance
S L
SL
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
Tyring
S K
SK
Smith
M H
MH
Meng
T C
TC
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005782:Gels; D007093:Imidazoles; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C402365:resiquimod