Combined antibody and ganciclovir treatment of murine cytomegalovirus-infected normal and immunosuppressed BALB/c mice.

The efficacy of treatment with ganciclovir (DHPG) and antibody activity-containing ascitic fluid (AF) separately and in combination was studied in normal and immunosuppressed BALB/c mice challenged intraperitoneally with a lethal dose (10(6) PFU) of murine cytomegalovirus (CMV). With combination therapy, lower doses of both DHPG and AF were often as effective as a higher dose of either agent given singly. For instance, the survival rate of murine CMV-challenged immunosuppressed mice was doubled when 4 mg of DHPG per kg and a 1:16 dilution of AF were both administered in contrast to when each was used alone. In both groups of animals, combination therapy was shown to be more effective than either therapy individually, even when initiation of therapy was delayed as long as 48 h. Such an approach holds promise for decreasing the expense associated with antibody use and the dose-related toxicity associated with DHPG use while maintaining or possibly increasing the efficacy of prophylaxis and therapy of serious CMV disease in humans.