McKeough MB, Spruance L; Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1999 Sep 26-29; 39: 431 (abstract no. 1408).

Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

BACKGROUND: Steroids are used as an adjunct to anti-infective agents in several bacterial, fungal and viral diseases to reduce inflammation associated with the immune response that contributes to the pathogenesis of the illness.METHODS: To investigate whether this approach might be useful in the management of recurrent herpes simplex labialis, we compared famciclovir (Famvir[TM], 500 mg tid po for 5 days) and topical fluocinonide (0.05% Lidex Gel[TM], tid for 5 days) with famciclovir and topical vehicle placebo for their ability to reduce the severity of experimental UVR-induced herpes labialis. Patients initiated treatment at the first sign or symptom of a recurrence.RESULTS: Forty-nine volunteers were irradiated, and 29/49 (59%) developed a lesion and initiated Rx. Adverse events were minimal and not different between groups [table: see text].CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy significantly reduced lesion size. There were trends in the steroid group towards more aborted lesions and faster healing. Rates of virus isolation did not increase and there were no adverse events associated with the use of steroids. Adjunctive topical steroids may be safe and beneficial in herpes labialis. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• 2-Aminopurine
• Blindness
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Fluocinonide
• Herpes Labialis
• Humans
• Placebos
• Recurrence
• Ultraviolet Rays
• drug therapy
• famciclovir
• therapy

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0008104

UI: 102245601

From Meeting Abstracts