Vaccine Therapy In Recurrent Herpes Simplex

Abstract

Prevention of recurrent herpes simplex, despite numerous recommended procedures, has remained a problem. In one of our previous studies, inoculation with a nonspecific vaccine gave results no better than those with the same vaccine which had been heatinactivated. It appeared possible that a specific vaccine might produce greater benefit. A double-blind study has recently been conducted in which one group of patients with recurrent herpes simplex received a series of injections of a specific herpes virus vaccine while the control group was given a placebo solution. No significant difference between the results in the two groups was obtained. It is concluded that the benefit observed is attributable to psychotherapeutic effects.