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Valacyclovir versus acyclovir for HSV prophylaxisin neutropenic patients
Dawn I Warkentin1, Joel B Epstein, Lara M Campbell
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Background:
It is common practice to administer acyclovir as prophylaxis to patients with hematologic malignancies during neutropenia; however, effective therapy requires frequent dosing, which is difficult in this setting. Valacyclovir has greater oral bioavailability and requires less frequent dosing.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of valacyclovir compared with acyclovir.
Methods:
Patients who had been treated with chemotherapy or stem-cell transplantation were randomized to receive acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times daily (n = 51), valacyclovir 500 mg orally twice daily (n = 48), or valacyclovir 250 mg orally twice daily (n = 52) during neutropenia.
Results:
Clinical success, defined as the absence of an active herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesion or asymptomatic viral shedding, was similar between the 3 groups (acyclovir 96%, valacyclovir 500 mg 95%, valacyclovir 250 mg 100%). The overall rates of adverse events were similar in the 3 groups.
Conclusions:
Prophylactic treatment with valacyclovir is an effective and safe alternative to acyclovir for the prevention of HSV reactivation in patients with hematologic malignancies.