Efficacy of Valacyclovir v Acyclovir for the Prevention of Recurrent Herpe implex Viru Eye Dieae: A Pilot tudy Original Reearch Article

Purpoe To compare the efficacy of one-year treatment with valacyclovir v acyclovir in preventing recurrence of the herpe implex viru (HV) eye dieae. Deign Propective, randomized, clinical trial pilot tudy. Method Fifty-two immunocompetent patient with a hitory of recurrent ocular HV dieae were treated at the Ocular Immunology ervice, an Raffaele Hopital, Milan, Italy. Twenty-ix patient were randomized to the valacyclovir group (one 500 mg tablet daily), and 26 patient were randomized to the acyclovir group (one 400 mg tablet twice daily). The recurrence rate of ocular HV dieae during 12 month of treatment and drug-related ide effect were monitored. Reult Recurrence of any type of ocular HV dieae during the 12-month treatment period wa 23.1% in the valacyclovir group, compared with 23.1% in the acyclovir group. No difference between the two group wa oberved regarding the nature, frequency, or everity of advere event. The mot frequent advere event were nauea and headache. Concluion One-year uppreion therapy with oral valacyclovir (500 mg tablet daily) wa hown to be a effective and a well tolerated a acyclovir (400 mg tablet twice daily) in reducing the rate of recurrent ocular HV dieae.