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Previous Volume 335:721-729 September 5, 1996 Number 10 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Ganciclovir is a nucleoside analogue of guanosine, a homologue of acyclovir, and the first antiviral drug to be effective in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in humans.^1,2,3,4 It inhibits not only all the herpesviruses but also the transformation of normal cord-blood lymphocytes by Epstein–Barr virus.^5,6,7 In this review, I outline ganciclovir's mechanisms of action and resistance and discuss the clinical effectiveness of intravenous and oral ganciclovir.

Mechanism of Action

The structures of ganciclovir and of its analogue acyclovir are shown in Figure 1. In vivo, ganciclovir is converted to ganciclovir triphosphate, which inhibits viral DNA polymerases, including those of herpes simplex . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Intracellular Phosphorylation of Ganciclovir

Cytotoxicity

Mechanisms of Resistance

Clinical Importance of Resistance to Ganciclovir

Antiviral Spectrum

Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous and Oral Ganciclovir

Clinical Uses

Treatment of CMV Infections

            CMV Retinitis

            Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract

            Pneumonia

            Infection of the Nervous System

Prevention of CMV Disease

Toxicity

Alternative Therapies

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Hospital, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Crumpacker.

References

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