[Drugs active against herpesviruses].

Drugs active against herpesvirus are undergoing rapid development. Acyclovir is the antiviral drug of choice for treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and the varicella and zona virus (VZV) because of its efficacy and lack of toxicity. Valaciclovir, precursor of acyclovir, allows reducing the daily intake to 2 doses for HSV infections and to 3 doses for VZV. For cytomegalovirus infections and HSV that are resistant to acyclovir in immunodepressed patients, ganciclovir and foscarnet are available and effective but can involve respectively haematologic and renal toxicity. Penciclovir, the active form of famciclovir, is a new antiviral drug indicated in the treatment of zona.