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Query: UMLS:C0033774 (pruritus)
 14,546 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A double-blind placebo controlled trial of oral acyclovir in otherwise healthy immune competent young adults with chickenpox was conducted. One hundred males were recruited into the trial, fifty were randomised to receive acyclovir at a dose of 800 mg five times daily for 5 days and fifty to receive matching placebo. Acyclovir recipients experienced itching and required anti-pruritic therapy for a significantly shorter period of time (p less than 0.05); no significant effects of acyclovir therapy on overall rash progression were observed. In patients with a mild rash on entry the maximum daily temperature recorded was significantly lower in the acyclovir group as compared with placebo recipients on day 1 of therapy (p less than 0.01). Acyclovir was extremely well tolerated and no adverse events were reported. Studies with early oral acyclovir therapy in otherwise healthy children with chickenpox has demonstrated significant benefits, particularly in rash progression. It is postulated that the partial benefits shown in this study in adults reflect the high proportion of patients with mild disease and enrollment of the majority of patients more than 24 hours after the rash onset.
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PMID:A double blind, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety of oral acyclovir (Zovirax) in the treatment of chickenpox in adults. 152 49

The efficacy of oral acyclovir 400 mg twice daily in suppressing frequently relapsing genital herpes simplex was evaluated in an open multicenter study. Seventy-one patients were treated for 12 months. During treatment, 73% of the patients were completely free of symptoms when taking the tablets continuously, and another 14% had mild symptoms such as erythema and/or itching at single occasions. An accidental treatment interruption for 2-4 days led to mild but definite herpes episodes within a few days in 5 otherwise symptom free patients. Definite herpes episodes despite acyclovir medication occurred in 3 cases (4%). No noteworthy side effects were recorded during the acyclovir treatment. After withdrawal of acyclovir, herpes relapsed within 1-4 weeks in 69% of the patients. The frequency of relapses during the following months was reported to be equal to that before the treatment period in most of the patients. Acyclovir susceptibility of the isolated herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains did not change during treatment. The mean titres of antibodies against HSV type-common glycoprotein antigen, HSV-2 type-specific antigen and varicella zoster virus antigens decreased significantly during treatment with acyclovir.
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PMID:One year acyclovir suppression of frequently recurring genital herpes: a study of efficacy, safety, virus sensitivity and antibody response. 166 44

In many cases of chronic intractable pain without any discernible causes, when both Western medical treatment and acupuncture treatment failed to eliminate the pain, this pain is often due to the unrecognized presence of viral or bacterial infection. Even effective anti-viral or bacterial agents often fail to eliminate or inhibit the infection, as these drugs may also fail to reach the most painful area where often unrecognizable circulatory disturbances co-exist. Using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test Molecular Identification Method, we were able to localize substance P and thromboxane B2 (a good indicator of the presence and degree of circulatory disturbances) in the painful area along with virus or bacteria. Based on the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test localization method for specific substances or microbes, the author has successfully treated cases of chronic intractable pain by the combination of anti-viral or bacterial agents with either manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical stimulation through a pair of surface electrodes. Among a variety of infections, the most common cause of severe intractable pain was herpes simplex virus, and the most common bacterial cause of intractable pain of moderate degree was campylobacter. In addition, chlamydia was a very common cause of mild intractable pain. When peripheral nerve fibers are hypersensitive from nerve injury due to viral infection, in addition to the drug therapy for infection, use of Vitamin B1 25 mg., 2 times a day for an average adult often accelerates recovery time. As an anti-viral agent for the herpes virus family, the author found that EPA (Omega 3 fish oil, Eicosa Pentaenoic Acid, C20:5 omega 3), at doses between 180 mg. and 350 mg (depending upon body weight) 4 times a day for 2 to 6 weeks, without prescribing the common anti-viral agent Acyclovir, often eliminated the symptoms due to viral infection including all well-known types of the herpes virus, such as herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are usually not associated with intractable severe pain, but they are often associated with a recurrent burning or itching sensation and they can cause intractable frequent muscle twitching. Viruses belonging to the herpes family almost always exist between the midline of one side of the spinal cord and the midline of the front of the body where these nerves from the spinal cord end and the same virus is localized only on one side of the body at the same spinal level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Treatment of acute or chronic severe, intractable pain and other intractable medical problems associated with unrecognized viral or bacterial infection: Part I. 197 80

In a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of topical acyclovir in initial (first episode) genital herpes 18 patients received acyclovir ointment and 22 matching placebo ointment. Acyclovir significantly reduced the duration of viral shedding from external and all genital lesions, the duration of vesicles, the time to crusting, the time to complete healing of external and all genital lesions, new lesion formation, and the duration of pain, itching, and all symptoms combined for all patients. In female patients alone the time to crusting was not significantly different and the duration of pain only approached significance but the effects were otherwise the same as for all patients. No patients reported any adverse effects of treatment. Topical acyclovir is well tolerated and effective in treating initial genital herpes.
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PMID:Topical acyclovir in the treatment of initial genital herpes. 633 97

A double blind, placebo controlled trial of 5% acyclovir cream, applied topically five times a day for five days, was carried out in 49 patients with recurrent herpes labialis. These patients had a total of 74 episodes, 34 of which were treated with the 5% acyclovir cream and 40 with matching placebo. First episodes and all episodes treated with acyclovir cream had significantly shorter times to formation of ulcer or crust and to complete healing (p less than 0.05 for all variables). The duration of all symptoms and proportion of patients developing itching was also reduced by acyclovir cream in first episodes, though the difference was not significant. When the patient started treatment early in the course of a first episode acyclovir cream significantly reduced the percentage of lesions progressing beyond the papular stage (p less than 0.05). Acyclovir cream is well tolerated and effective for the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis.
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PMID:Successful treatment of herpes labialis with topical acyclovir. 640 39

Sixty-nine patients with first episodes and 111 with recurrent episodes of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were enrolled in a double-blind trial comparing a 5 percent topical acyclovir ointment versus placebo, polyethylene glycol (PEG). Among acyclovir recipients with first episodes of genital herpes, the mean duration of viral shedding from genital lesions, 2.0 days, mean duration of local pain or itching, 3.6 days, and mean time to healing of lesions, 11.2 days, were less than in placebo recipients 4.6, 6.7, and 15.8 days, respectively (p less than 0.05 for each comparison). Among patients with recurrent genital herpes, the mean duration of viral shedding from genital lesions was 0.8 days in acyclovir recipients compared with 1.7 days in placebo recipients (p less than 0.001). Among men with recurrent genital herpes, the mean time to crusting and healing of lesions was 3.5 and 7.5 days in acyclovir recipients compared with 5.0 and 9.7 days in placebo recipients, p = 0.03 and 0.07, respectively. No significant differences in the duration of symptoms or healing times were noted between acyclovir- and placebo-treated women with recurrent genital herpes. Acyclovir therapy was not associated with a decrease in frequency of clinical recurrences or an increase in the time of the next recurrence in patients with either first or recurrent genital herpes. Topical acyclovir appears effective in shortening some of the clinical manifestations of genital HSV infections.
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PMID:Double-blind controlled trial of topical acyclovir in genital herpes simplex virus infections. 704 19

An open multicenter study has been carried out to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of oral acyclovir in the treatment of varicella in immunocompetent patients in the first two years of life. Fifty-three children aged 3-24 months received acyclovir at 80 mg/Kg/day in four divided doses for 4 to 6 days; 24 of them were treated in the first 24 hours following disease onset, while the remaining 29 patients were enrolled within 48 hours. The assessment of evolution of disease signs and symptoms showed a rapid resolution of fever, itching and other constitutional symptoms, with interruption of vesicle formation and acceleration of cutaneous healing processes. No statistically significant differences have been demonstrated as to disease progression between patients treated in the first 24 hours, when compared with subjects receiving acyclovir in the following 24 hours. Acyclovir confirmed its excellent clinical and laboratory safety profile. By acting favorably on both the duration and severity of disease signs and symptoms, acyclovir treatment should be recommended in young children and infants with varicella, since a higher incidence of severe and complicated disease has been observed in these patient groups.
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PMID:Varicella in immunocompetent children in the first two years of life: role of treatment with oral acyclovir. Italian Acyclovir-Chickenpox Study Group. 762 63

Herpetic skin lesions have importance and growing frequency in the population. The authors report a double blind study involving 51 patients suffering from recurrent labial herpes to compare the effectiveness and adverse reactions of two topical antiviral preparations, the aciclovir (Zovirax) and epervudine (Hevizos). There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups in the healing tendency of herpetic lesions. The rate of relapses in a two months period was 44.4% in the group treated with aciclovir and 20.8% in the group treated with epervudine, the difference is not significant. Both preparation was well tolerated, only itching occurred as adverse reaction in the group treated with aciclovir. According to the results of the study the original Hungarian product (Hevizos), is at least as effective as the other topical preparation.
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PMID:[Clinical comparison of two topical antiviral ointments in herpes]. 788 87

Valaciclovir is a prodrug of acyclovir with more favourable bioavailability. Twice daily oral administration of valacyclovir is recommended in patients with genital herpes. A double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicriteria equivalence trial was conducted to determine whether od treatment with valacyclovir 1000 mg is as effective as bd treatment with 500 mg in patients with recurrent genital herpes. A total of 922 immunocompetent outpatients were treated with either regimen for 5 days; treatment was self-initiated at the first symptoms of the next recurrence. The principal outcome measures were the percentage of lesions healed at day 6, time to healing, time to cessation of pain, discomfort or itching, the percentage of abortive episodes and safety. Equivalence was assessed by comparison of 80% confidence limits for each measure; the two regimens were regarded as equivalent if the lower confidence limit was higher than a pre-determined equivalence limit calculated to show a maximum 10% inferiority of valacyclovir 1000 mg od against valaciclovir 500 mg bd. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the two treatments were equivalent for each outcome measure. Hence, it is concluded that valacyclovir 1000 mg od is as effective as 500 mg bd. as self-initiated therapy in patients with recurrent genital herpes.
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PMID:A double-blind, randomized study assessing the equivalence of valacyclovir 1000 mg once daily versus 500 mg twice daily in the episodic treatment of recurrent genital herpes. Genival Study Group. 1058 14

Cutaneous infiltration by leukemic cells is uncommon and may be associated with progression of disease. The authors present the case of a 77-year-old female patient, referred to the dermatology clinic for red, erythematous, pruritic papules, which had suddenly appeared on her left hemithorax, along the C6 dermatome, with a 4-week duration. She had already been medicated with Valacyclovir and Acyclovir for 4 weeks, without clinical improvement. She also had a diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and multinodular goiter. Tzanck smear showed no multinucleated giant cells,and PCR testing for Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) on skin biopsy was negative. Histopathology showed a typical B-CLL infiltrate (CD3+, CD20+) and cytogetic analysis was compatible with alterations seen in the bone marrow, confirming the diagnosis of cutaneous infiltration by B-CLL. The patient began chemotherapy with chlorambucil and intravenous human immunoglobulin, which resulted in total regression of the lesions as well as the pruritus. Even though lymphocytic infiltration of Herpes Simplex or Herpes Zoster scars is well documented, cutaneous infiltration with a zosteriform distribution without a previous episode of herpes is very rare. The therapeutic target should be the leukemia itself.
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PMID:Zosteriform B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia infiltration. 2197 Dec 74


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