Source: Cutis  |  Posted 8 years ago

Oral valacyclovir is three to five times more bioavailable than its parent compound acyclovir and can effectively treat recurrent herpes labialis, say American researchers.

No previous reports had been identified on the efficacy of oral valacyclovir to suppress recurrent herpes labialis lesions, according to researchers from Stony Brook School of Medicine, at New York State University.

Consequently, two identical, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group studies were designed for evaluation of its therapeutic value.

Ninety eight patients with a past history of four or more incidents of recurrent herpes labialis in the previous year were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. Forty nine received oral valcyclovir 500mg once daily for 16 weeks, while the other 49 were given a placebo. Researchers pooled data for analysis.

During the 4-month treatment period, 28 patients in the valacyclovir group remained recurrence-free in comparison with 18 who received placebos. Researchers determined that the mean time to first recurrence was significantly longer with valacyclovir (13.1 weeks) than that with placebo (9.6 weeks).

They also noted that patients given valacyclovir had 24 recurrent attacks compared with 41 patients receiving placebos. The therapeutic group had fewer incidences of adverse effects (22 events, 33 % of patients) while those in the placebo group sustained 29 events among 39% of patients.

The researchers do suggest, however, "that more research with larger patient numbers are necessary to corroborate and extend these results."