Long-term Valacyclovir Suppressive Treatment After Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Meningitis: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Suppressive treatment with 0.5 g of valacyclovir twice daily was not shown to prohibit recurrent meningitis and cannot be recommended for this purpose after HSV meningitis in general. Protection against mucocutaneous lesions was observed, but the dosage was probably inappropriate for the prevention of HSV activation in the central nervous system. The higher frequency of meningitis, after cessation of active drug, could be interpreted as a rebound phenomenon.