Herpes virus, drug

Acyclovir is an effective emti-herpes virus drug. 

Aciclovir (acyclovir) was one of the first effective selective antiviral agents. It is a guanine derivative of value in treating herpes viruses, though it does not eradicate them, and is only useful if drug treatment is started at the onset of infection. 

Many chemicals (including pharmaceuticals but also environmental and occupational chemicals) are known to stimulate the immune system in a way that autoimmune diseases occur [61]. However, because of its multifactorial nature, the occurrence of autoimmune-like (including drug allergic) diseases is rare if considered on a compound-by-compound base. But, in some cases (e.g., in case of HIV or Herpes virus-infected individuals), adverse reactions occur at a higher rate [65, 66]. 

An unusual feature of the herpes viruses is their preference for nerve cells. Stress to the nervous system, such as emotional stress or sunburn, can cause the virus to replicate, which leads to an outbreak through the skin. When they are not replicating, these viruses remain in nerve cells where they are not detected by the body s immune system, which has little activity in nerve cells. While remaining dormant in the nervous system, the viruses evade not only the immune system but antiviral drugs as well. 

Allergic reactions manifesting as fever, urticaria or other rashes, and arthralgia occur in 1-5% of patients taking antithyroid drugs. There has been a report of thiamazole-induced hypersensitivity syndrome associated with reactivation of human herpes virus 6 and cytomegalovirus (57). 

Antiviral Efficacy and Clinical Use. Docosanol (Abreva) is applied topically to treat blisters and cold sores caused by herpes virus simplex.42 This drug is available as an over-the-counter product, and is used primarily to treat recurrent outbreaks of orofacial herpes lesions. 

Scholar EM, Pratt WB (2000) Chemodrerapy of viral infecdons, I drugs used to treat influenza virus infecdons, herpes virus infecdons, and drugs widr broad-spectrum antiviral acdvity. hr The Andmicrobial Drugs, pp 491—549. Oxford Oxford University Press. 

Phosphorylated aciclovir inhibits DNA polymerase and so prevents viral DNA being formed. It effectively treats susceptible herpes viruses if started early in the course of infection, but it does not eradicate persistent infection. Taken orally about 20% is absorbed from the gut, but this is sufficient for the systemic treatment of some infections. It distributes widely in the body the concentration in CSF is approximately half that of plasma, and the brain concentration may be even less. These differences are taken into account in dosing for viral encephalitis (for which aciclovir must be given i.v.). The drug is excreted in the urine (t, 3 h). For oral and topical use the drug is given x 5/d. 

In the area of classical antimetabolites, a host of highly active new nucleosides have been found that show promise in the chemotherapy of cancer and viral diseases. Classical antimetabolites appear to have a virtual monopoly in the field of antiviral agents. After the discovery of the first effective drugs against,the Herpes virus 28b, c 25), a new breakthrough may have been... 

Antigenically altered T lymphocytes also found in cytomegalovirus infection, drug reactions, herpes virus, malaria, mumps, mycoplasma, rubella, rubeola, serum sickness, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, typhoid, viral hepatitis... 

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