Intervention
herpes encephalitis
HERPES ENCEPHALITIS, BLIND
Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that is specifically phosphorylated by herpes virus thymidine kinase and incorporated into the DNA, leading to cessation of DNA synthesis of the infected cell. In case of herpes encephalitis caused by HSV-1, intravenous therapy with a dose of approximately 2 g of acyclovir per day, depending on body weight, is applied for ten days (VanLandingham, Marsteller, Ross, & Hayden, The participants were treated for 7 consecutive days, in the dosage of 4 times 2 g per day. Encapsulation and randomization of the study medication was outsourced to the pharmacy department of PRA Health Sciences (Groningen, the Netherlands), and quality control, blinding and de-blinding were done by the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology of the UMCG. All participants, researchers and health care practitioners were blind for the treatment until after the study was closed and all measurements were done.