Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have reported success in reducing the number of Caesarean sections needed for women who have a history of genital herpes. The study, appearing in Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the first large-scale confirmation that the drug valacyclovir hydrochloride (Valtrex) is effective in protecting newborn infants from becoming infected with the virus.
"I think this will help immensely in giving doctors stronger evidence in using this treatment," said UT's Dr. Jeanne Sheffield. "Besides reducing the number of herpes outbreaks at birth, we also dropped the numbers of women without symptoms who were shedding the virus into the birth canal."
Herpes can alternate between months, or years, of dormancy and periods when genital sores appear. There is no cure, although the number and severity of outbreaks can be reduced through medication. Frequently, women of reproductive age are unaware that they have the virus and infants can catch the herpes virus from the birth canal or genital region of the mother during birth, even when the mother isn't showing symptoms. Consequently, Caesarean sections are usually offered to all women with active genital herpes lesions at the time of delivery.
Dr. Sheffield explained that the goal of the study was to reduce active genital herpes lesions at delivery so a Caesarean section wouldn't be required. And it seems that the drug valacyclovir was reasonably effective, with a 69 percent reduction in the appearance of clinical herpes simplex virus at the time of delivery. Sheffield added that there were no differences in complications between the valacyclovir and untreated groups.
Co-researcher, Dr. George Wendel, said the study should help doctors and patients have confidence in the efficacy and safety of anti-viral suppression in late pregnancy.
Source: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
