Adenine arabinoside

Adenine arabinoside (also known as Ara-A or Vidarabine) is a purine nucleoside antiviral drug that is used in the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections. It was the first antiviral agent to be approved for systemic therapy of viral infections and remains an important drug in the antiviral armamentarium.

History

Adenine arabinoside was first synthesized in the 1960s by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States. It was initially developed as a potential cancer treatment, but was found to have potent antiviral activity.

Mechanism of action

Adenine arabinoside works by inhibiting the synthesis of viral DNA. It is converted inside the cell to its active form, adenine arabinoside triphosphate, which inhibits DNA polymerase, an enzyme that viruses need to replicate their DNA.

Clinical use

Adenine arabinoside is used primarily in the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, including herpes simplex encephalitis, a life-threatening condition. It is also used in the treatment of varicella-zoster virus infections, which cause chickenpox and shingles.

Side effects

The most common side effects of adenine arabinoside are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. More serious side effects include neurotoxicity, which can lead to confusion, seizures, and even coma.

Resistance

Resistance to adenine arabinoside can occur, especially in patients with compromised immune systems. This is usually due to mutations in the viral DNA polymerase.

See also

• Antiviral drug
• Herpes simplex virus
• DNA polymerase

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