Cidofovir |
| Biological
agents targetted |
Smallpox
(variola) virus |
| Generally
effective against |
Double-stranded
DNA viruses, especially herpesviruses |
| Available
forms |
Intravenous cidofovir has been approved for the treatment of cytomegalovirus-induced
retinitis in AIDS patients. |
| Indications
and usage |
Infection
by herpesviruses. |
| Contraindications |
Known
adverse reactions to cidofovir. May not be safe for use in patients
with kidney problems. |
| Drug
interactions |
Cidofovir
is still largely experimental, extensive information about drug interactions
is not available. |
| Adverse
reactions and side effects
NOTE:
all such reactions are rare. |
The
commonest problem appears to be kidney damage. This can be avoided
by coadministration of the drug probenecid. There may be some adverse
effects on the eyes when used to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis. |
| Mode
of action |
Cidofovir
is activated by intracellular enzymes to form an inhibitor of DNA
polymerases that is up to 1000-fold more effective against the DNA
polymerases of viruses such as herpesviruses than against the DNA
polymerase of the host cell. |
| Structure |
 |
| Chemical
names |
- [[(1S)-2-(4-amino-2-oxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl)-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl]-phosphonic
acid
- (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)cytosine
|
| CAS
Registry number |
113852-37-2 |
Synonyms
and trade names
(known
and reported, not all may be current.) |
| Trade
Name |
Country |
| Vistide |
United
States |