Department

Therapeutics for the Clinician

Herpes Simplex Virus Prophylaxis With Famciclovir in Patients Undergoing Aesthetic Facial CO₂ Laser Resurfacing

Bisaccia E, Scarborough D

Cutis. 2003;72:327-328.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) reactivation may occur in patients undergoing facial carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser resurfacing and can delay healing and result in severe scarring. Prophylactic oral antiviral agents are administered routinely to patients undergoing laser resurfacing to prevent postoperative HSV-1 eruptions; however, dosage and duration of treatment vary in the literature. Famciclovir is a highly effective nucleoside analog used in the treatment of HSV infections. In this study, 60 patients, with and without a prior history of facial HSV-1 outbreaks, were given famciclovir 250 mg twice a day (BID), starting the day before facial laser resurfacing and continuing for 14 days. No reactivation was observed in any of the patients. In this small study, famciclovir 250 mg given BID for 14 days was an effective prophylactic treatment in facial laser resurfacing patients for the prevention of facial HSV reactivation.

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