Case report reveals successful treatment of VZV encephalitis with oral brivudine in a patient intolerant to intravenous antivirals, suggesting a promising alternative.
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis is a rare but severe complication of VZV. Intravenous acyclovir is the standard treatment, with the potential side effect of renal impairment that can complicate the therapeutic course and pose an obstacle to recovery. Herein, we describe the first case of VZV encephalitis with intolerance to intravenous acyclovir that was successfully treated with oral brivudine monotherapy without discernible sequelae. Brivudine is a promising therapy for VZV encephalitis, particularly in cases intolerant to traditional antivirals or complicated by renal impairment.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Shao et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: