       Document 0046
 DOCN  M9640046
 TI    Sorivudine: a promising drug for the treatment of varicella-zoster virus
       infection.
 DT    9604
 AU    Whitley RJ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at
       Birmingham; 35233, USA.
 SO    Neurology. 1995 Dec;45(12 Suppl 8):S73-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96136232
 AB    Sorivudine provides a unique nucleoside analog with significantly
       enhanced both in vitro and in vitro activity and enhanced oral
       bioavailability. Early indications from controlled studies indicate that
       sorivudine therapy is superior to acyclovir for the treatment of
       localized zoster in individuals with HIV infection and adults with
       chicken pox. However, these studies await peer evaluation. Importantly,
       recent experience in Japan indicates administration of sorivudine with
       5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is contraindicated. Sorivudine inhibits
       dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, which is required for the metabolism of
       5-FU. As a consequence, toxic levels of 5-FU accumulate in the plasma
       and have led to the deaths of nearly 30 patients in Japan. One might
       question, as these data unfold, the relative value of drugs with such
       enhanced in vitro activity and oral bioavailability as compared with
       standard therapeutic agents. Should accelerated healing occur, but not
       as dramatically as would have been anticipated from the in vitro data,
       unique approaches to the management of herpes zoster will need to be
       developed if further improvement is desired. Regardless, sorivudine
       appears superior to acyclovir for acceleration of cutaneous healing and,
       importantly, can be administered once daily in significantly smaller
       concentrations. These findings in and of themselves should allow for
       licensure of the compound in other developed societies.
 DE    Antiviral Agents/*THERAPEUTIC USE  Arabinofuranosyluracil/*ANALOGS &
       DERIVATIVES/THERAPEUTIC USE  Herpes Zoster/*DRUG THERAPY  Human
       Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

