Abstract
Herpes genitalis is an infection associated with considerable morbidity. Acyclovir, though effective, must be taken daily to prevent recurrences. The effects of interferon on this infection were therefore investigated. In a randomised double blind study, 31 patients with first episodes of genital herpes infection were studied to assess the effect of interferon on the presenting episode and on recurrences. Interferon (5 X 10(6) IU) was administered once daily subcutaneously during a five day "treatment" period followed by a three month "maintenance" period (1 X 10(6) IU three times weekly). Interferon had no effect on first episode herpetic attacks. During interferon administration women showed a trend towards reduced healing time and viral shedding in recurrences, but the differences were not significant and no effect was noted in women after administration of interferon. Interferon reduced assessed healing time and viral shedding in recurrences, however, in men (p = 0.05) during interferon administration, and this continued as a trend after treatment.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bryson Y. J., Dillon M., Lovett M., Acuna G., Taylor S., Cherry J. D., Johnson B. L., Wiesmeier E., Growdon W., Creagh-Kirk T. Treatment of first episodes of genital herpes simplex virus infection with oral acyclovir. A randomized double-blind controlled trial in normal subjects. N Engl J Med. 1983 Apr 21;308(16):916–921. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198304213081602. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Corey L., Benedetti J. K., Critchlow C. W., Remington M. R., Winter C. A., Fahnlander A. L., Smith K., Salter D. L., Keeney R. E., Davis L. G. Double-blind controlled trial of topical acyclovir in genital herpes simplex virus infections. Am J Med. 1982 Jul 20;73(1A):326–334. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(82)90117-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Douglas J. M., Critchlow C., Benedetti J., Mertz G. J., Connor J. D., Hintz M. A., Fahnlander A., Remington M., Winter C., Corey L. A double-blind study of oral acyclovir for suppression of recurrences of genital herpes simplex virus infection. N Engl J Med. 1984 Jun 14;310(24):1551–1556. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198406143102402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mindel A., Weller I. V., Faherty A., Sutherland S., Hindley D., Fiddian A. P., Adler M. W. Prophylactic oral acyclovir in recurrent genital herpes. Lancet. 1984 Jul 14;2(8394):57–59. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)90237-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thin R. N., Nabarro J. M., Parker J. D., Fiddian A. P. Topical acyclovir in the treatment of initial genital herpes. Br J Vener Dis. 1983 Apr;59(2):116–119. doi: 10.1136/sti.59.2.116. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Whittington W. L., Cates W. J., Jr Acyclovir therapy for genital herpes: enthusiasm and caution in equal doses. JAMA. 1984 Apr 27;251(16):2116–2117. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]