Human herpesviruses infections: clinical features and opportunities of therapy
R.V. Shubelko¹, I.N. Zuykova², A.E. Shulzhenko<sup>2

1</sup> JSC "K+31", Moscow
² “National Research Center — Institute of Immunology” Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow

Herpesviruses are widely spread among the human population. After the primary infection, the herpesviruses become latent and persistent in the human body for life. Adverse conditions and a low local or systemic immunity may reactivate the infection, which causes the inflammation, usually at the local level. The variety of clinical forms of herpesviruses infections constantly supports scientific interest both in the field of studying their pathophysiology and in the search for effective antiviral therapy. This is especially important for β- and γ-herpesviruses, since the α-herpesvirus group has been studied rather well.
Aim: to determine the efficacy of valacyclovir for replication of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6), cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the oropharynx in frequently ill adults with chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Patients and Methods: 80 patients with frequent recurrences of chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract were examined outpatiently. All patients underwent microbiological examination of swabs from the oropharynx and the viral load in mixed saliva and whole blood not in exacerbation period was assessed. Patients received valacyclovir therapy according to the scheme 500 mg x 3 times a day for 14 days. Control of viral load in the biomaterial was carried out after the end of treatment.
Results and Discussion: out of the period of exacerbation the oropharynx microflora in frequently ill adults is represented mainly by a normal or conditionally pathogenic microflora. EBV DNA, HHV-6, but not CMV DNA, were detected in the mixed saliva. The DNA of the herpesvirus was not detected in the blood samples of these patients. The use of valacyclovir in a dose 
of 500 mg 3 times a day significantly reduces the replication of EBV in the oropharynx in frequently ill adults.
Conclusions: it is advisable to conduct further studies to determine the dosage regimen and evaluate the clinical efficacy of acyclic nucleosides in the treatment of EBV infection.

Key words: herpes viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, frequently ill adults, viral load, valacyclovir.
For citation: Shubelko R.V., Zuykova I.N., Shulzhenko A.E. Human herpesviruses infections: clinical features and opportunities of therapy // RMJ. 2018. № 8(I). P. 39–45.