Once daily valacyclovir for reducing viral shedding in subjects newly diagnosed with genital herpes.

Objective: Genital herpes (GH) recurrences and viral shedding are more frequent in the first year after initial HSV-2 infection. The objective of this study was to provide the first evaluation of valacyclovir 1 g once daily compared to placebo in reducing viral shedding in subjects newly diagnosed with GH.

Methods: 70 subjects were randomized to receive valacyclovir 1 g daily or placebo in a crossover design for 60 days with a 7-day washout period.

Virologic response and safety of the abacavir/lamivudine fixed-dose formulation as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy: analyses of six clinical studies.

Objective: We analyzed virologic response and safety data from six recent clinical studies conducted in antiretroviral-naïve subjects treated with ABC/3TC or its components to assess the impact of baseline viral load on efficacy and safety endpoints used in the ACTG5202 protocol.

Methods: Primary endpoints were time to virologic failure (confirmed HIV-1 RNA > or = 1,000 copies/mL at 16-24 weeks or > or = 200 copies/mL at > or = 24 weeks) and time to first grade 3 or 4 adverse event or laboratory abnormality that was at least one grade higher than at baseline. The survival distributions of both endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method overall and by baseline viral load (<100,000 vs.

The effect of daily valacyclovir suppression on herpes simplex virus type 2 viral shedding in HSV-2 seropositive subjects without a history of genital herpes.

Background: A substantial number of HSV-2 seropositive individuals lack a history of clinically recognized genital herpes. These individuals can transmit disease during periods of asymptomatic viral shedding. The frequency of asymptomatic shedding and the efficacy of antiviral therapy in reducing shedding has not been assessed in this population.

Investigation into the multidimensional genetic basis of drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Objective: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare severe blistering skin diseases, which are mainly caused by drugs. The two idiosyncratic conditions are distinguished on the basis of the degree of blistering, possibly representing diseases at different ends of the same spectrum. A genetic predisposition has been postulated.