Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Over the past two decades, the recognition of viral enzymes and proteins that can serve as molecular targets of drugs has revolutionized the treatment of viral infections. Beginning with acyclovir, a number of systemically administered agents which are both relatively safe and effective for the treatment of herpetic infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have become widely available. Because of increased numbers of herpes virus infections, as well as the rising epidemic of HIV infections, the ophthalmologist is, more likely than ever before to be involved in the treatment of severe and frequent ocular infections caused by herpes viruses. In addition, the acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome has been demonstrated to be caused by herpes viruses and a once rare retinal infection caused by cytomegalovirus is common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this article, four systemic antiviral drugs (Vidarabine, Acyclovir, Ganciclovir, and Foscarnet) that have demonstrated usefulness in the treatment of ophthalmic disease are reviewed in detail with regard to their mechanisms, applications, effectiveness, and side effects.
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PMID:Systemic antiviral drugs used in ophthalmology. 132 32

Drugs capable of inhibiting viruses in vitro were described in the 1950s, but real progress was not made until the 1970s, when agents capable of inhibiting virus-specific enzymes were first identified. The last decade has seen rapid progress in both our understanding of antiviral therapy and the number of antiviral agents on the market. Amantadine and ribavirin are available for treatment of viral respiratory infections. Vidarabine, acyclovir, ganciclovir, and foscarnet are used for systemic treatment of herpesvirus infections, while ophthalmic preparations of idoxuridine, trifluorothymidine, and vidarabine are available for herpes keratitis. For treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infections, zidovudine and didanosine are used. Immunomodulators, such as interferons and colony-stimulating factors, and immunoglobulins are being used increasingly for viral illnesses. While resistance to antiviral drugs has been seen, especially among AIDS patients, it has not become widespread and is being intensely studied. Increasingly, combinations of agents are being used: to achieve synergistic inhibition of viruses, to delay or prevent resistance, and to decrease dosages of toxic drugs. New approaches, such as liposomes carrying antiviral drugs and computer-aided drug design, are exciting and promising prospects for the future.
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PMID:Antiviral therapy: current concepts and practices. 157 86

Intravenous acyclovir and vidarabine were compared in the treatment of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection in 25 immunocompromised children--13 with acute lymphocytic leukemia, three with other types of cancer, two with immunodeficiency and in seven undergoing prednisolone treatment. Thirteen had varicella and 12 had herpes zoster. Acyclovir was given intravenously to five patients with varicella and to four with herpes zoster at a dose of 5-10 mg/kg every eight hours. Vidarabine was given intravenously to eight patients with varicella and to eight with herpes zoster at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. In varicella, vidarabine significantly shortened the time from the start of treatment to cessation of new lesion formation compared with acyclovir. However, there was no significant difference in time to complete crusting between the two treatments. In herpes zoster, acyclovir significantly shortened the time from the onset of the skin lesions to complete crusting. A slight raise of GOT in two cases was reported. While acyclovir and vidarabine were equally effective for VZV infection, in herpes zoster acyclovir was more effective.
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PMID:Comparison of acyclovir and vidarabine in immunocompromised children with varicella-zoster virus infection. 251 97