pharmokinetics
Last reviewed 01/2018
An acyclic analogue of guanosine blocks viral DNA synthesis when phosphorylated by thymidine kinase, an enzyme found in some herpes viruses. The viral thymidine kinase has about 200 times the affinity for acyclovir as does mammalian thymidine kinase.
In vitro acyclovir inhibits proliferation in the order:
- herpes simplex I more than herpes simplex II, more than herpes varicella-zoster
Acyclovir is predominantly excreted by the kidney.