hevizos and Herpes-Simplex

Herpetic skin lesions have importance and growing frequency in the population. The authors report a double blind study involving 51 patients suffering from recurrent labial herpes to compare the effectiveness and adverse reactions of two topical antiviral preparations, the aciclovir (Zovirax) and epervudine (Hevizos). There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups in the healing tendency of herpetic lesions. The rate of relapses in a two months period was 44.4% in the group treated with aciclovir and 20.8% in the group treated with epervudine, the difference is not significant. Both preparation was well tolerated, only itching occurred as adverse reaction in the group treated with aciclovir. According to the results of the study the original Hungarian product (Hevizos), is at least as effective as the other topical preparation.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Deoxyuridine; Double-Blind Method; Female; Herpes Labialis; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ointments; Simplexvirus

The antiviral effect of 5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine (IPDU) on herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) is based on the sensitivity of virus DNA to nucleases due to IPDU incorporation into the virus DNA and the resulting change in DNA conformation. Virus selectivity is based on virus induced thymidine kinase activity and on HSV induction of polymerase enzymes catalyzing the incorporation. Hevizos ointment containing IPDU has the following advantageous pharmacokinetic properties: high accumulation in the skin, high resistance to phosphorylases and other metabolizing enzymes.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Deoxyuridine; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; DNA, Viral; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Models, Structural; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Ointments; Simplexvirus; Skin