The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company GlaxoSmithKline to use the antiviral drug Valtrex for the prevention of genital herpes recurrences in HIV-infected patients.
For the first time it has been proved that the administration of Valtrex (Valacyclovir) reduces the relapse rate in HIV – positive.
In the U.S., there are about 900 000 people with HIV infection, among which, according to various estimates, 58 to 81 per cent have genital herpes. Genital herpes in this group of patients can not lead to death, but because of the low immunity, the disease has a severe course accompanied by frequent, very intense and prolonged relapses which certainly reduces the quality of life of HIV – positive people.
A recent study showed that Valtrex can help such people. In the studies, which lasted more than six months, participated 293 people receiving antiretroviral therapy (pharmacological suppression of HIV). In addition, all those people have suffered genital herpes. 194 people were receiving 500 mg of Valtrex 2 times a day, 99 people were given a placebo or a tablet imitating Valtrex (with no active ingredient). After 6 months of continuous Valtrex therapy there were no recurrences in the first group 65% of patients. And only 25 people (26%) in the second group lived for those 6 months without recurrence. The interval between relapses in people receiving Valtrex, was on average 180 days versus 59 days in patients taking a dummy.
Side effects were observed very rarely (cca. 2-3%). The most frequent were headache, slight disability, nausea, discomfort in the abdomen.
Valtrex is effective in people with HIV infection in the CD 4 lymphocytes > 100 cells per cubic millimeter.
Those with frequent relapses of herpes, particularly genital herpes, may use Valtrex, Famvir and Acyclovir for prevention. In the U.S. and developed European countries, a prophylactic course is very popular. Preparations should be taken within six months or even longer, but in smaller doses.
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