Acyclovir prophylaxis for oral herpes simplex virus infection in patients with bone marrow transplants.

Reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) appears to play a significant role in oral mucositis resulting from bone marrow transplantation. The acyclic guanosine derivative acyclovir has been shown to be effective in treating and protecting against HSV infection in this group. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of HSV reactivation in oral mucositis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation who were seronegative for HSV or who received acyclovir prophylaxis. The results suggest that HSV plays an insignificant role in oral mucositis in these patients.