The efficacy of oral acyclovir during early course of pityriasis rosea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Acyclovir has been reported as a potential therapy for pityriasis rosea (PR) in several clinical trials on the basis of evidence of the involvement of human herpes viruses 6 and 7.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the efficacy of acyclovir for abating PR skin lesions within a fixed period.

METHODS

We searched 4 databases for clinical trials that used oral acyclovir to treat PR and performed systematic review and meta-analysis to determine oral acyclovir's effect on skin lesions on the 14th day after commencing treatment.

RESULTS

Five clinical trials including four randomized controlled trials were identified that compared the effects of oral acyclovir (n = 133) and nonacyclovir (n = 140) in patients with PR. Oral acyclovir significantly reduced erythema (odds ratio [OR] 11.30; 95% CI = 5.70-22.41; p < .01) and limited lesion formation (OR 8.67; 95% CI = 3.29-22.81; p < .01) compared with nonacyclovir treatment on the 14th day. These results were in agreement with the results of subgroup analysis of only high-dose oral acyclovir treatment and randomized controlled trials.

CONCLUSION

Oral acyclovir may be a relatively safe and effective treatment in the early course of PR, and patients with PR may achieve faster symptoms control with acyclovir.