Acyclovir prophylaxis of herpes-simplex-virus infections: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in bone-marrow-transplant recipients
R Saral, WH Burns, OL Laskin… - … England Journal of …, 1981 - Mass Medical Soc
R Saral, WH Burns, OL Laskin, GW Santos, PS Lietman
New England Journal of Medicine, 1981•Mass Medical SocWe conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of acyclovir prophylaxis against
infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) in 20 seropositive recipients of bone-marrow
transplants. Acyclovir or placebo was administered for 18 days, starting three days before
transplantation. Culture-positive HSV lesions developed during the study in seven of the 10
patients who received placebo. In contrast, no such lesions appeared in the 10 patients who
received acyclovir (P≃ 0.003). None of the patients had evidence of drug toxicity. Five of the …
infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) in 20 seropositive recipients of bone-marrow
transplants. Acyclovir or placebo was administered for 18 days, starting three days before
transplantation. Culture-positive HSV lesions developed during the study in seven of the 10
patients who received placebo. In contrast, no such lesions appeared in the 10 patients who
received acyclovir (P≃ 0.003). None of the patients had evidence of drug toxicity. Five of the …
Abstract
We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of acyclovir prophylaxis against infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) in 20 seropositive recipients of bone-marrow transplants. Acyclovir or placebo was administered for 18 days, starting three days before transplantation.
Culture-positive HSV lesions developed during the study in seven of the 10 patients who received placebo. In contrast, no such lesions appeared in the 10 patients who received acyclovir (P≃0.003). None of the patients had evidence of drug toxicity.
Five of the patients treated with acyclovir had mild culture-positive HSV infections after cessation of the drug, and two additional patients shed virus without having lesions.
Acyclovir appears to be a potent inhibitor of HSV replication. Although acyclovir does not appear to eradicate latent infection, it can provide effective prophylaxis against reactivated infections. (N Engl J Med. 1981; 305:63–7.)
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