Therapy of viral infections of the central nervous system

The herpesviruses (particularly HSV) are the only CNS viral infections for which reasonably clear guidelines exist for specific antiviral treatment. However, data are also beginning to emerge for specific antiviral therapy of HIV-associated CNS disease despite the lack of a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of the CNS abnormalities. As the pace of antiviral drug development increases it is likely that a wider range of CNS viral infections will be treatable in the future although entry into the CNS is likely to remain a problem limiting the successful application of many compounds to CNS infection.