Foscarnet therapy for severe acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type-2 infections in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). An uncontrolled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether trisodium phosphonoformate (foscarnet) is efficacious in treating severe mucocutaneous disease due to acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

DESIGN: Open-labeled drug administration to patients with AIDS and severe ulcerative disease due to acyclovir-resistant HSV-2 infection.

SETTING: Medical floors of acute care hospital.

PATIENTS: Four patients with AIDS who developed progressive ulcerative mucocutaneous lesions of the genitals, perineum, perianal region, or finger due to acyclovir-resistant, thymidine-kinase (TK)-negative strains of HSV-2.

INTERVENTION: Foscarnet, 60 mg/kg body weight intravenously every 8 hours (with reduced dosage for renal impairment), for 12 to 50 days.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: All patients receiving foscarnet had dramatic improvement in their clinical findings with marked clearing of mucocutaneous lesions and eradication of HSV from mucosal surfaces.

CONCLUSION: Foscarnet may be an effective treatment for severe mucocutaneous disease due to acyclovir-resistant, TK-negative strains of HSV-2.