CJIDMM Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1180-2332 Pulsus Group Inc 984698 10.1155/2003/984698 CIDS Position Paper Contemporary Antiviral Drug Regimens for the Prevention and Treatment of Orolabial and Anogenital Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in the Normal Host: Four Approved Indications and 13 Off-Label Uses Aoki Fred Y nelsonak@ms.umanitoba.ca 1 Department of Medicine University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada umanitoba.ca 2 Department of Medical Microbiology University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada umanitoba.ca 3 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada umanitoba.ca 2003 1 2 2003 14 1 17 27 2003 Copyright © 2003 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) orolabial and anogenital infection causes substantial and recurring disease in healthy individuals due directly to infection of these sites and, indirectly, due to its complications. These complications include eczema herpeticum plus erythema multiforme and neonatal HSV infection, respectively. Four drugs: acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir and penciclovir, are currently licensed by the Therapeutics Products Directorate of Health Canada for the management of HSV infections. Although these drugs are only approved for four orolabial and anogenital infections in healthy persons, their efficacy and safety for 13 other related uses in this population have been demonstrated in controlled clinical trials, so called off-label uses. In this review, the evidence supporting these 17 uses, the drugs and regimens evaluated, and their current costs, are described.

 Antiviral therapy Herpes simplex virus infection Prophylaxis