Quantitation of Herpes simplex DNA in Blood during Aciclovir Therapy with Competitive PCR ELISA

BACKGROUND: Monitoring viral load in blood has already been introduced into clinical routine for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to monitor the decline of herpes simplex (HSV) viral load in the blood of a patient with gingivostomatitis herpetica prior and during acyclovir therapy. METHODS: Analysis was done by quantitative PCR ELISA using an internal quantitation standard. RESULTS: Copy numbers were 66/microl blood prior to therapy, 60 during oral medication with valaciclovir, 97 and 72 copies/microl blood during the first 2 days of intravenous acyclovir therapy, followed by a sharp decline to 8 and 9 copies on days 3 and 4. During the following days, HSV was no longer detectable. CONCLUSION: As this quantitative approach can be easily adjusted to any other PCR, it provides a reliable, easy-to-apply method for monitoring therapy, also during new antiviral clinical trials.