Cytosine Arabinoside for Localized Herpes Zoster in Patients with Cancer: Failure in a Controlled Trial

Abstract

Cytosine arabinoside was administered in doses of 30 mg/m² per day for three days by continuous intravenous infusion in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the drug in the early management of localized herpes zoster among patients with cancer. This dose and schedule, although nontoxic, was without value in halting further development of local lesions, reducing local pain, or preventing progression to the more serious disseminated form of zoster.