[Sulphated glycosaminoglycans as virus inhibitors. 4th communication: clinical aspects of zoster with the proposal of a new treatment (author's transl)].

On the base of plaque inhibition tests in at least three virus-host-systems and successful treatment of mice with experimentally induced yellow fever encephalitis a well known sulphated glycosaminoglycan (GAGPS) "L5" was used as therapeutic agent in cases of zoster infection in man. The material was applied as 1% solution in water continuously on lint and rewettet for several days until nearly complete healing was achieved. The clinical course of 18 patients of former years (12 women, 6 men) was compared with 26 cases (19 women, 7 men) treated additionally with the new substance. All of them were carefully observed in the Rudolf-Virchow-Hospital in Berlin. Besides of registrating data as age and sex of the patients and the seasonal distribution of cases the course of illness was analyzed. The mean duration before admission to the hopsital was 4,9 days in the control group and 7,2 days in the L5-patients. Signs of organ diseases possibly acting as trigger mechanism for the remanifestation of the zoster were nearly twice in number in L5 cases than in the controls. Despite of this unfavorable stiutation the main parameters showed a clear tendency to return earlier to normal values in the GAGPS group. The fever was shortened. The blood lymphocytes normalized better with mean absolute values of 2400 in the L5-group and 3029 per m(3) in the control cases. The fall of the cell number in the liquor cerebrospinalis was more rapidly in the GAGPS treatment. The mean stay in the hospital was 33,2 days in L5 cases and 44,6 days in control patients respectively in the main group of age between 60 and 80 years. One death in the GAGPS group corresponded to four in the control group. In the local skin area the edema disappeared rapidly with beginning of treatment. Confluent vesicles flattened within 24 to 48 hours and no further efflorescences were seen. Pain diminished in few days. The good results justify continued trials.