Arnold Library

Valganciclovir for suppression of human herpesvirus-8 replication: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Casper, Corey and Krantz, Elizabeth M and Corey, Lawrence and Kuntz, Steven R and Wang, Jie and Selke, Stacy and Hamilton, Shannon and Huang, Meei-Li and Wald, Anna (2008) Valganciclovir for suppression of human herpesvirus-8 replication: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. The Journal of infectious diseases, 198 (1). pp. 23-30. ISSN 0022-1899

[thumbnail of Final published article]
Preview
Text (Final published article)
CasperCManuscript.pdf
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (351kB) | Preview
Article URL: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/5...

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) replication is critical in the induction and maintenance of Kaposi sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and some cases of Castleman disease. In vitro and observational studies suggest that ganciclovir inhibits HHV-8 replication, but no randomized clinical trials have been conducted. METHODS: A total of 26 men infected with HHV-8 were randomized to receive 8 weeks of valganciclovir administered orally (900 mg once per day) or 8 weeks of placebo administered orally. After a 2-week washout period, participants in each group received the study drug they had not yet taken (either valganciclovir or placebo), for 8 additional weeks. Oral swab samples were collected daily during the study, and HHV-8 and CMV DNA were quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: A total of 16 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men and 10 HIV-negative men enrolled in and completed the study. Of the 3,439 swab samples that participants had been expected to provide, 3029 (88%) were available for analysis. HHV-8 was detected on 44% of swabs collected from participants who were receiving placebo, compared with 23% of swabs collected from participants who were receiving valganciclovir (relative risk [RR], 0.54 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.33-0.90]; P = .02). Valganciclovir reduced oropharyngeal shedding of cytomegalovirus by 80% (RR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.08-0.48]; P < .001). Shedding of HHV-8 and shedding of cytomegalovirus were independent. Hematologic, renal, or hepatic toxicities were no more common among participants who received the active drug, compared with those who received placebo, though participants who received valganciclovir reported more days of diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Valganciclovir administered orally once per day is well tolerated and significantly reduces the frequency and quantity of HHV-8 replication.

Item Type: Article or Abstract
Additional Information: This article is available to subscribers only via the URL above.
DOI: 10.1086/588820
PubMed ID: 18491970
NIHMSID: NIHMS114922
PMCID: PMC2700177
Grant Numbers: K23 AI054162-05, K24 AI071113-03, P01 AI030731-18, U19 AI031448-180017
Keywords or MeSH Headings: Adult; Aged; Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Ganciclovir/adverse effects/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use; HIV Infections/complications; Herpesvirus 8, Human/drug effects/physiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oropharynx/virology; Patient Compliance; Sarcoma, Kaposi/prevention & control; Virus Replication/drug effects; Virus Shedding/drug effects;
Subjects: Research Methodologies > Clinical Trials
Diseases > Viral diseases
Organisms > Viruses > RNA viruses
Therapeutics > Drug Therapy
Depositing User: Library Staff
Date Deposited: 04 May 2009 22:14
Last Modified: 14 Feb 2012 14:42
URI: http://authors.fhcrc.org/id/eprint/279

Repository Administrators Only

View Item View Item