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Quantitation of herpes simplex DNA in blood during aciclovir therapy with competitive PCR ELISA
G Bezold1, P Gottlöber, U Leiter
1Department of Dermatology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Background:
Monitoring viral load in blood has already been introduced into clinical routine for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus.
Objective:
This study was conducted to monitor the decline of herpes simplex (HSV) viral load in the blood of a patient with gingivostomatitis herpetica prior and during acyclovir therapy.
Methods:
Analysis was done by quantitative PCR ELISA using an internal quantitation standard.
Results:
Copy numbers were 66/microl blood prior to therapy, 60 during oral medication with valaciclovir, 97 and 72 copies/microl blood during the first 2 days of intravenous acyclovir therapy, followed by a sharp decline to 8 and 9 copies on days 3 and 4. During the following days, HSV was no longer detectable.
Conclusion:
As this quantitative approach can be easily adjusted to any other PCR, it provides a reliable, easy-to-apply method for monitoring therapy, also during new antiviral clinical trials.