Pharmacology of antiviral chemotherapeutic agents useful in human viral infections of the nervous system

Several drugs that have antiviral activity and acceptably low toxicity for systemic use in humans have been discussed in this paper. For ara-A, acycloguanosine, and interferon, there is convincing evidence of effectiveness in limiting certain viral diseases of the nervous system. At this moment use of these drugs cannot be justified for benign, self-limiting, and uncomplicated viral diseases (e.g., localized herpes labialis). However, data from large controlled clinical trials are just beginning to be available and therefore the indications for use of these drugs may change rapidly. It is anticipated that these drugs will have a definite and welcome role in medical therapeutics.