Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation - Blog Science Connections

Herpesvirus Infections 613
contrast, intravenous acyclovir is very effective in abrogating the progession
of VZV infection (18). A new drug, 2-amino-9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]
purine (descyclovir, BW515Ü), is an analogue of acyclovir that is metabolized
by xanthine oxidase to acyclovir. Excellent absorption after oral administration
occurs and high blood levels of acyclovir are achieved (19). Randomized
trials comparing descyclovir with placebo in the treatment of dermatomal
zoster in immunocompromised patients are currently under way and, if
successful, should lead to an effective ambulatory therapy of VZV infection.
REFERENCES
1. Sarai R, Burns WH, Laskin OL, Santos GW, Lietman PS. N Engl J Med 1981 ;305:63.
2. Sarai R, Ambinder RF, Burns WH, Angelopoulos CM, Griffin DE, Burke PJ, Lietman PS. Ann
Intern Med 1983;99:773.
3. Burns WH, Sarai R. In Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation: Proceedings of the First
International Symposium, Dicke KA, Spitzer G, Zander AR, eds. The university of Texas M. D.
Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston, Houston, 1985:475.
4. Jabs DA, Wingard JR, de Bustros S, de Miranda P, Sarai R, Santos GW. Arch Ophthalmol
1986;104:1436.
5. Winston DJ, Ho WG, Lin CH, BudingerMD, Champlin RE, Gale RP. Am J Med 1984;76:128.
6. Winston DJ, Pollard RB, Ho WG, Gallagher JG, Rasmussen LE, Huang SN, Lin CH, Gossett
TG, Merigan TC, Gale RP. Ann Intern Med 1982;97:11.
7. MeyersJD, LeszczynskiJ, Zaia JA, FlournoyN, Newton B, Snydman DR, Wright GG, Levin MJ,
Thomas ED. Ann Intern Med 1983;98:442.
8. O'Reilly RJ, Reich L, Gold J, Kirkpatrick D, Dinsmore R, Kapoor N, Condie R. Transplant Proc
1983:15:1405.
9. Bowden RA, Sayers M, Flournoy N, Newton B, Banaji M, Thomas ED, Meyers JD. N Engl J
Med 1986:314:1006.
10. Blacklock HA, Griffiths P, Stirk P, Prentice HG. Lancet 1985;2:152.
11. Reed EC, Bowden RA, Dandliker PS, Meyers JD. Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial
Agents and Chemotherapy, 1986 (abstract 731).
12. Verdonck LF, van Heugten H, de Gast GC. Blood 1985;66:921.
13. Cheng YC, Huang ES, Lin JC, Mar EC, Pangano JS, Dutschman GE, Grill SP. Proc Natl Acad
Sei USA 1983:80:2767.
14. Felsenstein D, D'Amico DJ, Hirsch MS, Neumeyer DA, Cederberg DM, de Miranda P,
Schooley RT. Ann Intern Med 1985;103:377.
15. Shepp DH, Dandliker PS, deMiranda P, BurnetteTC, Cederberg DM, Kirk LE, Meyers JD. Ann
Intern Med 1985:103:368.
16. Meyers JD, Reed EC, Shepp DH, Flournoy N, Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial
Agents and Chemotherapy, 1986 (abstract 732).
17. Crumpacker CS, Schnipper LE, Zaia JA, Levin MJ. Antimicrob Agents Chemother
1979:15:642.
18. Balfour HH, Bean B, Laskin OL, Ambinder RF, Meyers JD, Wade JC, Zaia JA, Aeppli D, Kirk
LE, Segreti AC, Keeney RE, Burroughs Wellcome Collaborative Acyclovir Study Group. N
Engl J Med 1983:308:1448.
19. Selby P, Powles RL, Blake S, Stolle K, Mbidde EK, McElwain TJ, Hickmott E, Whiteman PD,
FiddianAP. Lancet 1984;2:1428.