Evidence that Raltegravir (Isentress, Merck), a Retroviral Integrase Inhibitor is Effective against Recurrent Human Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Associated with NK-cell Deficiency

Copyright: © 2013 Dreyfus DH. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Recurrent or severe infection with Herpes Viruses may reflect an acquired underlying immune deficiency such as AIDS/HIV-1 infection but also is typical of some types of hereditary immune deficiency presenting in childhood. In utero exposures to reactivation or primary maternal infection with herpes simplex type 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV or HHV-4) remain a significant cause of infant mortality are also a major cause of both congenital deafness (CMV) as well as other pediatric morbidity and mortality (HSV and CMV). Molecular defects have been identified in toll-receptors, related interferon signaling pathways associated with herpes simplex encephalitis andshingles due to VZV (varicella zoster virus) as well as defects in NK (natural killer)-cells associated with overwhelming EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus or Human Herpes 4) infection in the syndrome of XLP (X-Linked Immunoproliferative syndrome). Specific defects in these and other mechanisms of herpes pathogenesis remain an active subject of research, however it is clear that additional therapy options for severe herpes virus infection are needed in both the adult and pediatric population.