Oral Acyclovir Therapy for Mucocutaneous Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in Immunocompromised Marrow Transplant Recipients

  1. DAVID H. SHEPP, M.D.;
  2. BARBARA A. NEWTON, R.N.;
  3. PAULA S. DANDLIKER, R.N.;
  4. NANCY FLOURNOY, Ph.D.; and
  5. JOEL D. MEYERS, M.D.

    Abstract

    In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, we compared the therapeutic effect of oral acyclovir (400 mg five times daily for 10 days) with that of placebo in patients with marrow transplants and culture-proven recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex. Twelve patients received acyclovir and nine received placebo. Acyclovir treatment significantly shortened the median duration of viral shedding, new lesion formation, and time to first decrease in pain, resolution of pain, 50% healing, and total healing. These results compared favorably with those previously obtained with intravenous or topical acyclovir preparations. Oral acyclovir is highly effective for the treatment of recurrent mucocutaneous infections caused by herpes simplex virus in immunocompromised patients.

    Article and Author Information

    • ▸From the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Seattle, Washington.

    • Grant support: by grants CA 18029, CA 30924, and CA 15704 from the National Institutes of Health, and a grant from Burroughs Wellcome Company. Dr. Shepp is supported in part by an award from the Poncin Scholarship Fund.

    • ▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to David H. Shepp, M.D.; Program in Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia Street; Seattle, WA 98104.

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    1. Ann Intern Med June 1, 1985 vol. 102 no. 6 783-785
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