Topical acyclovir treatment of herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients.

Topical acyclovir favorably influences the healing of localized herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients. This therapy, or placebo, was applied to forty-three patients in a random access, double-blind trial, four times daily for 10 days, beginning within 72 hours after the onset of skin lesions. The mean time to pustulation is decreased from 12.4 to 6.7 days and the mean time to crusting is decreased from 16.0 to 11.4 days (p = 0.038 and 0.086, respectively) by topical treatment. The mean time to 50% healing is decreased from 24.5 to 15.2 days and the mean time to 100% healing is decreased from 34.9 to 25.8 days (p = 0.023 and 0.033, respectively). Favorable effects in treated patients are not associated with a more rapid decline in lesion virus titer, but do accrue without any toxicity.