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LONG-TERM SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY FOR RECURRENT GENITAL HERPES.

Oral acyclovir has been shown to be effective for treating recurrent genital herpes, but the safety of long- term therapy is unknown. This interim report from an ongoing multicenter trial of suppressive oral acyclovir (400 mg/day) suggests that the benefits of this therapy are sustained over several years.

The subjects are otherwise healthy adults who had at least six episodes of genital herpes simplex infection during the 12 months before their enrollment in 1984. During the first year of the study, subjects were randomized to the suppressive regimen or placebo. During the second year, subjects were allowed to choose between suppressive therapy or treatment for acute episodes; in the third year, all subjects received daily acyclovir.

Of the 289 subjects who completed three years of suppressive therapy, 63 percent had no recurrences during the third year, and 25 percent were free of recurrences for the entire three-year period. One death (due to AIDS) occurred during the third year, and three patients discontinued therapy because of adverse effects possibly attributable to the drug. These findings suggest that oral acyclovir is safe and effective for the prevention of recurrent genital herpes for at least three years.

— THL

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine February 19, 1991

Citation(s):

Kaplowitz LG et al. Prolonged continuous acyclovir treatment of normal adults with frequently recurring genital herpes simplex virus infection. JAMA 1991 Feb 13 265 747-751.

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