March 2012. Volume 8. Number 1

Oral acyclovir suppression therapy could be of benefit for neurodevelopmental outcomes in children who had neonatal herpes

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AVC | Critically appraised articles

Kimberlin DW, Whitley RJ, Wan W, Powell DA, Storch G, Ahmed A et al.; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group. Oral acyclovir suppression and neurodevelopment after neonatal herpes. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1284-92.
Reviewers: Cuello García CA1, Pérez Gaxiola G2.
1ITESM. Monterrey. Nuevo León. México.
2Hospital Pediátrico de Sinaloa. Culiacán. Sinaloa. México.
Correspondence: Carlos Alberto Cuello García. Email: carlos.cuello@gmail.com
Reception date: 24/01/2012
Acceptance date: 26/01/2012
Publication date: 01/02/2012

Abstract

Authors' conclusion: Children receiving acyclovir therapy had a higher mean Bayley mental-development scores at 12 months, and less cutaneous recurrences than did infants on placebo.

Reviewers' commentary: Even though the present randomised trial demonstrates some benefit in neurodevelopmental outcomes in children who had neonatal herpes and received oral suppression therapy with acyclovir, this benefit is marginal, the study presents high possibility of attrition bias, and is underpowered for important outcomes; hence we can only recommend this therapy with caution until more evidence is available.

How to cite this article

Cuello García CA, Pérez Gaxiola G. La terapia supresiva con aciclovir oral podría ser de beneficio para el desarrollo neurológico en niños que padecieron herpes neonatal. Evid Pediatr. 2012;8:11.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

Kimberlin DW, Whitley RJ, Wan W, Powell DA, Storch G, Ahmed A et al.; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group. Oral acyclovir suppression and neurodevelopment after neonatal herpes. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1284-92.
Reviewers: Cuello García CA1, Pérez Gaxiola G2.
1ITESM. Monterrey. Nuevo León. México.
2Hospital Pediátrico de Sinaloa. Culiacán. Sinaloa. México.
Correspondence: Carlos Alberto Cuello García. Email: carlos.cuello@gmail.com
Reception date: 24/01/2012
Acceptance date: 26/01/2012
Publication date: 01/02/2012

How to cite this article

Cuello García CA, Pérez Gaxiola G. La terapia supresiva con aciclovir oral podría ser de beneficio para el desarrollo neurológico en niños que padecieron herpes neonatal. Evid Pediatr. 2012;8:11.

References

  1. Kimberlin DW, Lin CY, Jacobs RF, Powell DA, Corey L, Gruber WC et al. Safety and efficacy of high-dose intravenous acyclovir in the management of neonatal herpes simplex virus infections. Pediatrics. 2001;108:230-8.
  2. Kimberlin DW, Lin CY, Jacobs RF, Powell DA, Frenkel LM, Gruber WC et al. Natural history of neonatal herpes simplex virus infections in the acyclovir era. Pediatrics. 2001;108:223-9.
  3. Jones CA, Walker KS, Badawi N. Antiviral agents for treatment of herpes simplex virus infection in neonates. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD004206. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004206.pub2.
01/02/2012

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