Ganciclovir—Have We Established Clinical Value in the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infections?
Authors: RICHARD J. WHITLEY
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1988)

Editorials1 March 1988Ganciclovir—Have We Established Clinical Value in the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infections?RICHARD J. WHITLEY, M.D.RICHARD J. WHITLEY, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-108-3-452 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptA decade ago, the first report of parenteral antiviral therapy for severe and life-threatening herpesvirus infections, describing the value of vidarabine therapy for biopsy-proven herpes simplex encephalitis, appeared in the literature (1). Subsequently, with the introduction of acyclovir, a selective and specific inhibitor of viral replication, major advances were achieved in the management of herpesvirus infections, especially herpes simplex (2-7) and varicella-zoster (8-10) virus infections. Novel approaches to preventing and suppressing herpes simplex virus infections have evolved, including intravenous administration of acyclovir after bone marrow transplantation to prevent viral reactivation (11), and suppressive therapy for frequently recurring genital herpes infections...References1. WHITLEY R, SOONG S, DOLIN R, GALASSO G, CHIEN L, and ALFORD C. Adenine arabinoside therapy of biopsy-proved herpes simplex encephalitis: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases collaborative antiviral study. N Engl J Med. 1977;297:289-94. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. COREY L, NAHMIAS A, GUINAN M, BENEDETTI J, CRITCHLOW C, and HOLMES K. A trial of topical acyclovir in genital herpes simplex virus infections. N Engl J Med. 1982;306:1313-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. BRYSON Y, DILLON M, and LOVETT M. Treatment of first episodes of genital herpes simplex virus infection with oral acyclovir. A randomized double-blind controlled trial in normal subjects. 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Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1985;82:2473-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. BACH M, BAGWELL S, KNAPP N, DAVIS K, and HEDSTROM P. 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl) guanine for cytomegalovirus infections in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1985;103:381-2. LinkGoogle Scholar19. . Treatment of serious cytomegalovirus infections with 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl) guanine in patients with AIDS and other immunodeficiencies. N Engl J Med. 1986;314:801-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar20. FELSENSTEIN D, D'AMICO D, and HIRSCH M. Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with 9-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethoxymethyl] guanine. Ann Intern Med. 1985;103:377-80. LinkGoogle Scholar21. LASKIN O, STAHL-BAYLISS C, KALMAN C, and ROSECAN L. Use of ganciclovir to treat serious cytomegalovirus infections in patients with AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1987;155:323-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar22. MASUR H, LANE H, and PALESTINE A. Effect of 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl) guanine on serious cytomegalovirus disease in eight immunosuppressed homosexual men. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:41-4. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: RICHARD J. 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Nahass, MD, David Alcid, MD, David J. Gocke, MDEfficacy and Safety of Two Different Dose Levels of Ganciclovir for the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Chorioretinitis in AIDS Patients 1 March 1988Volume 108, Issue 3Page: 452-454KeywordsAntiviral therapyBone marrow transplantationCytomegalovirus infectionEncephalitisGenital anatomyHerpes simplexViral replication ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 March 1988 PDF downloadLoading ...