Acyclovir creme in recurrent herpes genitalis

: A multicenter clinical, double-blind crossover trial was conducted in 65 men and 31 women experiencing recurrent episodes of genital herpes in order to compare the effect of acyclovir in propylenglycol (40% cream) with that of cream alone (placebo). 59.4 of the patients on acyclovir experienced a beneficial effect in relation to the usual clinical course of their herpetic eruptions. The corresponding figure for placebo was 34.4%. These percentages were 76.6 and 33.3 respectively if the treatment started within four hours after appearance of symptoms or skin lesions. Pain and burning lasted less than four days in 70.8% of the patients on acyclovir and in 36.4% of those on placebo cream (p less than 0.001). The average duration until complete healing of all skin lesions was 32 hours shorter for patients on acyclovir. In 42 patients on acyclovir and 31 patients on placebo (p less than 0.001) it was less than four days. As regards duration of symptoms and skin lesions, the effect was significantly better if treatment was started early (e.g. less than 4 h). Slight to moderate side-effects were reported in 13.5% of the patients on both treatment regimens.