Neutral red with photoinactivation in the treatment of herpes genitalis

Abstract

A clinical trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy of neutral red photodynamic inactivation treatment of genital herpes, infections with that of a nonphotoactive dye, pehnol red, as a control. In a series of 19 patients with virologically proven herpes genitalis who were adequately followed, 11 were treated with neutral red, and eight with phenol red; no difference in response to therapy was found between the two groups, and it is concluded that under the conditions of this trial neutral red with photoinactivation was not effective in the treatment of acute genital herpes infections. Approximately 75% of those with vulval lesions also had concurrent cervical infection, so that an effective topical treatment would need to be applicable to both anatomical sites.