Intravenous Acyclovir for the Treatment of Primary Genital Herpes

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Abstract
A total of 31 patients with 1st episodes of gential herpes were randomized in a double-blind fashion to i.v. treatment with saline placebo or acyclovir, 5 mg/kg body wt at 8 h intervals, for 5 days. The median duration of viral shedding from genital lesions after the onset of therapy was significantly shorter for patients given acyclovir (2 days) than for those given placebo (13 days), P < 0.001. Viral shedding from the pharynx, cervix, urethra and urine were also shorter in acyclovir-treated patients (P .ltoreq. 0.01 for each comparison). Local and systemic symptoms were shortened by a mean of 5 days and healing of genital lesions by a mean of 12 days in acyclovir-treated patients (P < 0.01). Complications during treatment, such as extragenital lesions or urinary retention requiring catheterization, developed in 4 patients given placebo and in 0 given acyclovir (P < 0.05). I.v. acyclovir substantially decreases the symptoms, duration of lesions and complications of primary genital herpes.