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[Antiviral substances: against what? For whom?]
1Division des maladies infectieuses, Hôpital cantonal universitaire, Genève.
Therapeutische Umschau. Revue Therapeutique
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Acyclovir effectively treats herpes simplex virus infections. Zidovudine improves survival for HIV patients and may slow AIDS progression, requiring blood count monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Acyclovir and zidovudine are principal antiviral agents.
- Herpes simplex virus and HIV infections pose significant global health challenges.
Purpose:
- To review the efficacy and indications of acyclovir and zidovudine.
- To highlight current understanding of their clinical applications and limitations.
Summary:
- Acyclovir is effective for herpes simplex virus infections, with early treatment being crucial. Higher doses may benefit herpes zoster virus by shortening skin lesions, but impact on neuralgia is unclear.
- Zidovudine reduces mortality in advanced HIV infection with opportunistic infections, offering an average one-year life expectancy increase. It also shows promise in slowing AIDS progression in asymptomatic patients with adverse lab markers, necessitating regular blood monitoring due to myelotoxicity.
Impact:
- These antivirals have transformed management of herpesvirus and HIV infections.
- Expanded indications for zidovudine may improve long-term outcomes for a broader HIV-positive population.