Topically applied vidarabine sodium phosphate in genital herpes infection.

One hundred and thirty-four patients with recurrences of genital herpes were randomized in a double-blind trial to receive self-applied topical therapy with either vidarabine sodium phosphate in an aqueous gel or placebo gel. No significant differences were noted between the two groups in the duration of viral shedding, in the time to healing of the treated recurrence, in the interval between recurrences, or in the number of recurrences.