Efficacy and safety of valacyclovir for the suppression and episodic treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients with HIV.

Abstract

Three randomized controlled trials of valacyclovir for the management of recurrences of genital herpes in HIV-infected persons were conducted between 1991 and 2002. One study evaluated episodic therapy for the treatment of genital herpes, and 2 studies evaluated continuous suppressive therapy. Valacyclovir at 1000 mg twice daily for 5 days was comparable to acyclovir at 200 mg 5 times daily in accelerating healing of a single episode of genital herpes (hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-1.2; P=.89). Valacyclovir at 500 mg twice daily was effective in preventing or delaying recurrences of genital herpes compared with placebo (hazard ratio, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.13-0.30; P<.001) and with valacyclovir at 1000 mg once daily (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.40-0.80; P=.001), in 6-month and 48-week studies, respectively. The safety profile of valacyclovir was similar to that of acyclovir. Valacyclovir is well tolerated, safe, and effective for the treatment and suppression of recurrent genital herpes in human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons.

• Authors: Terri Warren, Julia Harris, Clare A Brennan
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 39 Suppl 5 Pg. S258-66 (Nov 01 2004) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 15494897 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Prodrugs
• Valine
• Valacyclovir
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Herpes Genitalis (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prodrugs (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Secondary Prevention
• Valacyclovir
• Valine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)