compound-348u87 and Herpes-Genitalis

There have been impressive advances made over the last decade in the management of sexually transmitted viral diseases, especially in the development of effective antiviral agents. Acyclovir, first synthesized in 1974, has proved to be an effective and safe drug for the treatment of primary and frequently recurring genital herpes, according to the various medical publications over the last 10 years. This article reviews the use of acyclovir in the treatment of genital herpes and discusses the potential problem of acyclovir resistance. It also discusses two newer antiherpes drugs, famciclovir and valaciclovir, and the preliminary results of studies on their efficacy in the treatment of genital herpes.

Topics: 2-Aminopurine; Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Child; Famciclovir; Female; Herpes Genitalis; Humans; Hydrazones; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pyridines; Valacyclovir; Valine

The thiocarbonohydrazone 348U87 inactivates herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase and potentiates the activity of acyclovir against wild-type and acyclovir-resistant strains of herpes simplex virus. We treated 10 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with acyclovir-resistant anogenital herpes simplex virus infection with a topical preparation of 348U87 (3%) in combination with acyclovir (5%) in an open-labelled study. Transient improvement with combination therapy occurred frequently; however, target lesions reepithelialized completely in only 1 of 10 patients. Termination of study drug therapy was most often due to cessation of therapeutic effect before complete resolution of lesions. As currently formulated, topical 348U87 offers little therapeutic benefit for this indication.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Topical; Antiviral Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Herpes Genitalis; HIV Infections; Humans; Hydrazones; Male; Pyridines; Ribonucleotide Reductases; Simplexvirus