A case of chronic renal dysfunction following treatment with oral acyclovir

Nephrotoxicity is a well-known side effect of intravenous acyclovir treatment but occurs rarely by oral treatment. A 76-y-old healthy male, with normal baseline renal functions (blood creatinine 0.6 mg%), received oral acyclovir at a dose of 800 mg five times daily for 10 days for treatment of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. He developed renal failure with blood creatinine levels of 3 mg% and his renal function failed to improve within eight months of end of treatment. Affection of renal function has to be considered also in relation to oral acyclovir treatment, especially in elderly subjects.