Acyclovir for Chronic Mucocutaneous Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Immunosuppressed Patients
- STEPHEN E. STRAUS, M.D.;
- HOLLY A. SMITH, B.S.;
- CHAIM BRICKMAN, M.D.;
- PAULO de MIRANDA, Ph.D.;
- COLIN McLAREN, Ph.D.; and
- RONALD E. KEENEY, M.D.
Abstract
Over 25 episodes of severe chronic and recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infections in five immunodeficient patients were successfully treated with intravenous or oral acyclovir treatment. Acyclovir was shown to inhibit viral shedding rapidly, to be well tolerated, and to permit the complete healing of lesions. As expected, a course of acyclovir did not prevent later recurrences of the herpes virus infections. However, symptomatic recurrences were successfully suppressed during long (up to 65-day) courses of oral acyclovir.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; and Burroughs Wellcome Co.; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Stephen E. Straus, M.D.; Medical Virology Section, LCI, NIAID, Building 10, Room 11-N-113, NIH; Bethesda, MD 20205.
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