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Related Experiment Videos

Acyclovir in shingles.

B Bean, D Aeppli, H H Balfour

    The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
    |September 1, 1983
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Intravenous acyclovir effectively treated acute herpes zoster in adults, reducing pain and speeding skin healing. While the higher dose reduced viral shedding, neither dose prevented post-herpetic neuralgia, and the high dose caused side effects.

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    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Dermatology
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Acute herpes zoster (shingles) is a viral infection causing pain and skin lesions.
    • Effective antiviral treatments are crucial for managing herpes zoster and preventing complications.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous acyclovir in treating acute herpes zoster in healthy adults.
    • To compare the effects of low-dose versus high-dose acyclovir on pain, skin healing, viral shedding, and post-herpetic neuralgia.

    Main Methods:

    • A clinical study involving adult patients with acute herpes zoster.
    • Intravenous administration of acyclovir at two different doses: low dose (5 mg/kg every 8 hours) and high dose (500 mg/m2 every 8 hours).
    • Assessment of pain, skin healing, viral shedding duration, and incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.

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    Main Results:

    • Both low and high doses of intravenous acyclovir significantly reduced pain and accelerated skin healing.
    • The high dose of acyclovir significantly shortened the duration of viral shedding.
    • No significant reduction in post-herpetic neuralgia was observed, though a trend favored the higher dose.
    • The low dose had no associated adverse effects; the high dose led to nausea, vomiting, and transiently elevated serum creatinine in a notable number of patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Intravenous acyclovir is effective in managing acute herpes zoster symptoms and promoting healing in healthy adults.
    • Higher doses of acyclovir may offer additional benefits in reducing viral shedding but are associated with increased adverse effects.
    • Further research is needed to determine optimal dosing strategies for preventing post-herpetic neuralgia.