Early relapses of varicella-zoster virus infection in immunocompromised children treated with acyclovir.

Authors observed one or more early VZV relapses in 8 out of 98 Acyclovir treated immunocompromised children with varicella. None of the 8 children developed VZV antibodies by the end of the 5-day ACV treatment. All VZV relapses were successfully treated with ACV or Vidarabine, but were stopped only after the appearance of VZV antibodies in the patients' sera. The possible role of ACV treatment in pathogenesis of early VZV relapses could be excluded by comparing the VZV antibody production of patients treated with ACV from the first day of varicella on with the antibody response of those, who received ACV as late as on the 5th day of varicella. By prolonging the ACV treatment till the appearance of VZV antibodies, early relapses could be avoided.