A large-scale, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial of peroral valaciclovir for episodic treatment of recurrent herpes genitalis. Valaciclovir HSV Study Group.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Valaciclovir, the 1-valyl ester of acyclovir, has provided a peroral acyclovir bioavailability 3 to 5 times that of acyclovir itself and is rapidly and completely converted to acyclovir by the liver. Accordingly, valaciclovir has the same antiviral activity as acyclovir, but the potential for enhanced clinical activity and/or less frequent administration because of its superior pharmacokinetics.

METHODS:

We conducted a double-blind, placebocontrolled, patient-initiated clinical trial of peroral valaciclovir, 500 or 1000 mg, or matching placebo tablets twice daily for 5 days for the acute treatment of 1 episode of recurrent herpes genitalis among 987 otherwise healthy volunteers.

RESULTS:

Both doses of valaciclovir were equally effective. Patients receiving the lower dose of valaciclovir experienced a median episode length of 4.0 days compared with 5.9 days for those receiving placebo treatment (hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.6-2.3). Valaciclovir therapy increased the proportion of patients in whom the development of vesicular and ulcerative lesions was prevented in comparison with placebo treatment: 31% vs 21% (relative risk, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9). Valaciclovir therapy accelerated the resolution of pain (hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5-2.1) and the time to cessation of viral shedding (hazard ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9). Adverse reactions among the valaciclovir groups were comparable with those of the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Valaciclovir therapy provided a clinically significant benefit to patients that included shortening of the duration of lesions, the duration of pain or discomfort, and the duration of virus shedding. In addition, this study, to our knowledge, provides the first convincing demonstration that antiviral therapy can prevent lesion development. These results should prompt a reconsideration of the role that episodic treatment plays in the management of recurrent herpes genitalis.

• Authors: S L Spruance, S K Tyring, B DeGregorio, C Miller, K Beutner
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) 1996 Aug 12-26 Vol. 156 Issue 15 Pg. 1729-35 ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8694673 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Valine
• Valacyclovir
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Herpes Genitalis (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Recurrence
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Valacyclovir
• Valine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)