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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 11, 2013
Juvenile respiratory papillomatosis: acyclovir reassessed
1Department of Otolaryngology, Hospitals for Sick Children, London, UK.
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Acyclovir (a common antiviral) showed no significant benefit for aggressive respiratory papillomatosis, even with standard treatments. This suggests Acyclovir is not effective for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Respiratory papillomatosis is a rare, aggressive condition.
- Juvenile respiratory papillomatosis (JRP) often requires extensive treatment.
Observation:
- Four patients with aggressive respiratory papillomatosis received oral Acyclovir as adjuvant therapy alongside endoscopy and laser treatment.
- Treatment duration varied from 2 weeks to 3 months.
- Two patients had laryngeal disease, and two had lower respiratory tract involvement.
Findings:
- One patient experienced less aggressive disease during Acyclovir treatment.
- Overall, Acyclovir did not significantly impact the progression of respiratory papillomatosis.
- Acyclovir efficacy relies on virally encoded thymidine kinase, an enzyme not typically found in papilloma viruses.
Implications:
- Acyclovir is not recommended for treating juvenile respiratory papillomatosis.
- Further research into effective adjuvant therapies for JRP is warranted.
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