Topical Acyclovir for Genital Herpes

To the Editor: We were pleased with the publication of Dr. Corey's study on the use of topically applied acyclovir in the treatment of genital herpes (June 3 issue)¹ but we must take issue with the accompanying editorial,² which stated that whereas the effects of topically applied acyclovir in initial episodes of genital herpes are substantial, they are minor or unimportant when the virus recurs. The editorial said that the use of acyclovir should be discouraged when the immune system has been previously primed, as in recurrent herpes. This approach ignores the benefit of a decrease in the formation.