Acyclovir Prophylaxis in Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): H. Anderson, J.H. Scarffel, R.N.P. Sutton, E. Hickmott, D. Brigden, C. Burke
Primary Institution: Christie Hospital & Holt Radium Institute
Hypothesis
Does oral acyclovir reduce herpes simplex virus infections in lymphoma and leukaemia patients undergoing chemotherapy?
Conclusion
Acyclovir significantly reduced the incidence of clinical HSV infection and viral isolates in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Supporting Evidence
- Prophylactic oral acyclovir reduced clinical HSV infection from 60% on placebo to 5% on acyclovir.
- The incidence of viral isolates dropped from 70% on placebo to 5% on acyclovir.
- Only one patient in the acyclovir group developed a clinical infection compared to 12 in the placebo group.
Takeaway
This study found that giving cancer patients a medicine called acyclovir helped stop them from getting sick from a virus that can cause cold sores.
Methodology
A double blind, placebo controlled trial with 41 patients receiving chemotherapy, randomized to receive either acyclovir or placebo.
Potential Biases
The double-blind design helps minimize bias, but the small sample size may limit generalizability.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and excluded patients with acute leukaemia from the main analysis.
Participant Demographics
Patients were aged 17-75, with a mix of males and females, and included those with high grade lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
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