ganciclovir

English

Chemical structure of ganciclovir

Alternative forms

• gancyclovir

Etymology

From g(u)an(osine) +‎ -ciclovir (“bicyclic heterocycle compound”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɡanˈsʌɪ.klə(ʊ)ˌvɪə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɡænˈsaɪ.kloʊˌvɪɹ/

Noun

ganciclovir (uncountable)

1. (pharmacology) An antiviral medication C₉H₁₃N₅O₄ related to acyclovir and used especially to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus retinitis in immunocompromised individuals.
   • 1991 December 22, Jacob Smith Yang, “Activists Fight Drug Profiteering”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 23, page 3:

     A significant number of AIDS patients are unable to tolerate ganciclovir treatments because of adverse effects it can have on production of critical blood cells.

Derived terms

• valganciclovir

References

• “ganciclovir”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.