Acyclovir in pregnancy for primary prevention of neonatal herpes
Easy Steps to a Safer Pregnancy - View e-book or Download PDF - FREE!
An interactive resource for moms on easy steps they can take to reduce exposure to chemical toxins during pregnancy.
These are easy to read and understand and are beautifully presented.
Randolph AG, Hartshorn RM, Washington AE
Acyclovir prophylaxis in late pregnancy to prevent neonatal herpes: A cost-effectiveness analysis.
Obstet Gynecol 1996;88:603-10.
Reviewed by
Michael N. Stiffman, M.D., M.S.P.H. and Patricia Adam, M.D., M.S.P.H.
Clinical question
Is the administration of oral acyclovir to pregnant women with recurrent
herpes cost effective for preventing neonatal herpes?
Background
Up to one third of all pregnant women have been exposed to herpes and may
be at risk for transmitting the infection during childbirth. The current
standard of care in many hospitals is a cesarean section for active herpes
lesions present during labor. Recent evidence suggests that acyclovir late
in pregnancy may decrease the frequency of recurrent active lesions. This
analysis incorporates this new evidence and reassesses the data supporting
the current standard of care.
Population studied
The study population consisted of a hypothetical cohort of 10,000 pregnant
women at 37 weeks gestation with at least one previous clinically documented
episode of genital herpes.
Study design and validity
This well designed cost-effectiveness analysis looked at four main strategies
in the decision tree: A) no drug treatment but cesarean section if active
herpes lesions are present at the time of delivery, B) acyclovir prophylaxis
from 37 weeks and cesarean section if active lesions are present, C) acyclovir
prophylaxis and vaginal delivery even if active herpes lesions are present,
and D) no intervention. The decision tree considered all important outcomes,
including long term costs and sequelae of neurologic damage from neonatal
herpes. The evidence for all probabilities in the tree was presented and
referenced. The estimates of acyclovir's benefit were based on two randomized
controlled trials that evaluated its effect on prevention of active herpes
lesions. Extrapolation was then made to an effect on prevention of neonatal
herpes. The estimates of the benefits of cesarean section were based only
on expert opinion. The authors acknowledge that there are no data to support
this opinion. Appropriate sensitivity analyses (varying the probability
of each intermediate step through a range of possibilities) were presented.
Viral resistance was not considered in the analysis. It would be helpful
to know how increasing levels of resistance would affect the analysis.
Outcomes measured
Primary outcomes measured were the frequency of infections, morbidity and
mortality, the direct cost per neonatal life saved, and the direct cost
for prevention of long term neurologic sequelae associated with each strategy.
Results
In this analysis, the use of acyclovir is clearly beneficial. Cesarean
section appears beneficial but the true effect is unknown because the data
are inadequate. The rate of neonatal infection per 10,000 women followed
for each of the four strategies listed above is: A) no drug/cesarean, 3.4;
B) acyclovir/cesarean, 0.7; C) acyclovir/no cesarean, 1.2; and D) no drug/no
cesarean, 6.2. Costs for each case of neonatal herpes prevented (compared
to strategy D) are $1,319,457 for strategy A; $493,641 for strategy B;
and $400,382 for strategy C. Costs per case of neonatal death or disability
prevented are $3,012,459 for strategy A; $1,127,034 for strategy B; and
$914,114 for strategy C.
Recommendations for clinical practice
A policy of routine drug prophylaxis for pregnant women with recurrent
genital herpes is cost effective. The evidence for the effectiveness of
acyclovir is based on trials looking at intermediate outcomes. Thus, the
true effectiveness of acyclovir on neonatal infection may be greater because
(theoretically) acyclovir may decrease the viral load present in active
lesions and reduce the transmission rate. Acyclovir is currently not approved
for use in pregnant women. Assuming that it is proven safe for use in the
third trimester, providers should offer prophylactic acyclovir to pregnant
women with a history of genital herpes. The data are too weak to make a
strong recommendation for or against prophylactic cesarean section. Until
more definitive patient-oriented evidence is available, the decision to
use acyclovir prophylaxis and/or to perform a cesarean section remains
a matter of informed consent.
This Web page is referenced from another page containing related information
about Herpes
