Efficacy of acyclovir combined with immunopotentiating agents in the treatment of varicella-zoster

In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of cellular immune reactions (T-cell subset, E-rosette formation, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene, were made in patients with varicella-zoster infection (VZ) and with other intracellular infections. The data demonstrated depressed cellular immunity including a decrease in the number of T-helper cells and a fall in the T-helper/T-suppressor lymphocyte subset ratio to less than 0.7. Three groups of patients with VZ infections were randomly assigned to three regimens: (1) nine patients were given acyclovir alone for five days; (2) ten patients received acyclovir for five days and isoprinosine for ten days; and (3) twelve patients acyclovir for five days and levamisole twice weekly for three weeks. In patients with VZ infections treated with acyclovir and either levamisole or isoprinosine cellular immunity improved faster, while VZ infections in those treated with levamisole healed more rapidly. One patient treated with acyclovir alone had recurrent VZ infection and required a further course of therapy.