Acyclovir treatment in stromal herpetic keratitis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Virology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Herpetic keratitis, an infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus, can lead to stromal keratitis and iritis.
• Deep stromal involvement and iritis indicate a severe form of herpetic keratitis, potentially leading to vision impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acyclovir (3%) ointment in treating deep stromal herpetic keratitis with iritis.
• To assess the impact of acyclovir treatment on healing time and recurrence rates.
• To identify any significant side effects associated with topical acyclovir therapy.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of twenty-five patients with long-standing deep stromal herpetic keratitis and iritis was treated.
• Treatment involved the application of acyclovir (3%) ointment in conjunction with corticosteroids.
• Healing time and recurrence rates were monitored, along with the occurrence of adverse events.

Main Results:

• All patients achieved clinical healing within two to four weeks of initiating acyclovir treatment.
• The duration of keratitis prior to treatment and previous antiviral medications did not influence healing time.
• Acyclovir treatment did not demonstrate a preventative effect on the recurrence of herpetic keratitis.
• No serious adverse side effects were reported during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Topical acyclovir (3%) ointment is an effective treatment for promoting healing in deep stromal herpetic keratitis with iritis.
• While acyclovir aids in resolving active infections, it does not prevent future recurrences of the disease.
• The safety profile of acyclovir ointment in this patient group appears favorable, with no significant side effects observed.