Iontophoretic application of idoxuridine for recurrent herpes labialis: report of preliminary clinical trials.

In clinical trials on six patients the antiviral drug idoxuridine (Stoxil) was applied by anodal (+) iontophoresis to 14 recurrent herpes labialis lesions. Results were characterized by immediate relief of discomfort and swelling, rapid appearance and coalescence of vesicles, minimal or no spread of the lesions, and accelerated healing with minimal or no scab. These encouraging trials indicate that a full-scale, double-blind, controlled clinical study should be carried out to determine whether iontophoresis is the optimal method of applying idoxuridine to the surface lesions caused by herpesvirus.