The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of valacyclovir in patients who have
chronic hepatitis C, antibodies to herpes simplex type 1 infection but do not have antibodies
to herpes simplex type 2 infection. Herpes simplex type 1 infection commonly causes cold
sores or fever blisters, also known as herpes labialis, but most persons do not have any
symptoms at all. Valacyclovir is a medication which is approved by the Food and Drug
administration to treat herpes labialis. Valacyclovir has not been approved to treat chronic
hepatitis C infection.
The study will take 16 weeks. Participants will be assigned to take either the study drug,
valacyclovir, or a sugar pill that looks exactly like valacyclovir. The researchers and
patients will not know which medication they are receiving. Study visits will occur every two
weeks and will take approximately 30-45 minutes. All study visits will occur at the G.V.
Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi.