Progressive cutaneous herpes simplex infection in acute myeloblastic leukemia. Successful treatment with interferon and cytarabine.

A patient had acute myeloblastic leukemia and extensive progressive cutaneous herpes simplex virus infection. Complete and rapid healing of skin lesions with remission of the leukemia occurred during 15 days of therapy with human leukocyte interferon and minimal doses of cytarabine hydrochloride. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that the patient had a defective antiviral interferon response, which was effectively corrected by treatment with interferon alpha. This may help to explain the dramatic response of both conditions to therapy.