Parenteral acyclovir therapy for herpesvirus infections in man

Acyclovir is a new antiviral agent which is highly active against herpesviruses in vitro and in laboratory animals. Twenty-three cancer patients with cutaneous and/or systemic herpes zoster or herpes simplex infections were treated with parenteral acyclovir. All had received previous specific treatment for their malignant disease and ten had undergone bone-marrow transplantation. The drug seemed to arrest the progress of the infections and was most effective when given early. Although two patients showed transient increases in blood-urea, possibly the result of acyclovir, the drug was remarkably non-toxic in the doses used.