Valaciclovir Use in Lupus Patients
Indications and Treatment
- The American College of Physicians recommends considering antiviral prophylaxis with valaciclovir in patients with lupus who present additional risk factors for opportunistic infections, such as advanced therapy, treatment with anti-CD20, bendamustina, or history of febrile neutropenia or VHS/VVZ reactivation 1
- For immunocompromised patients with lupus, higher doses of oral antivirals, such as valaciclovir 500 mg three times a day, are recommended until clinical resolution 2
Dosage Regimens
- For episodic treatment of herpes simplex, valaciclovir 1000 mg twice a day for 7-10 days is recommended 3
- For herpes zoster, valaciclovir 1000 mg three times a day for 7 days is effective 4
Precautions and Contraindications
- The European Renal Association recommends adjusting the dose of valaciclovir according to renal function to avoid neurotoxicity, a common adverse effect in patients with underlying renal disease 5