TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of oral acyclovir after penetrating keratoplasty for herpetic keratitis
T2 - a placebo-controlled multicenter trial
AU - van Rooij, Jeroen
AU - Rijneveld, Wilhelmina J
AU - Remeijer, Lies
AU - Völker-Dieben, Henny J M
AU - Eggink, Catrien A
AU - Geerards, Annette J M
AU - Mulder, Paul G H
AU - Doornenbal, Peter
AU - Beekhuis, W Houdijn
PY - 2003/10
Y1 - 2003/10
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prophylactic effect of oral acyclovir on the recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease after penetrating keratoplasty.DESIGN: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight consecutive patients (68 eyes) with corneal opacities due to herpetic eye disease who underwent penetrating keratoplasty.INTERVENTION: Oral acyclovir 400 mg twice daily or placebo tablets for 6 months.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease-related events and rejection episodes, proven by viral cell culture or polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: During the 2-year follow-up period, there were 3 culture-proven herpetic eye disease recurrences in the acyclovir group and 9 in the placebo group. Lifetime survival analysis of the probability of remaining free from recurrence revealed a significantly reduced risk of recurrent herpetic disease in the acyclovir-treated group.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that oral acyclovir effectively prevents herpes-related recurrences after penetrating keratoplasty in herpetic eye disease.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prophylactic effect of oral acyclovir on the recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease after penetrating keratoplasty.DESIGN: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight consecutive patients (68 eyes) with corneal opacities due to herpetic eye disease who underwent penetrating keratoplasty.INTERVENTION: Oral acyclovir 400 mg twice daily or placebo tablets for 6 months.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease-related events and rejection episodes, proven by viral cell culture or polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: During the 2-year follow-up period, there were 3 culture-proven herpetic eye disease recurrences in the acyclovir group and 9 in the placebo group. Lifetime survival analysis of the probability of remaining free from recurrence revealed a significantly reduced risk of recurrent herpetic disease in the acyclovir-treated group.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that oral acyclovir effectively prevents herpes-related recurrences after penetrating keratoplasty in herpetic eye disease.
KW - Acyclovir/administration & dosage
KW - Administration, Oral
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage
KW - Corneal Opacity/surgery
KW - Double-Blind Method
KW - Female
KW - Graft Rejection/prevention & control
KW - Humans
KW - Keratitis, Herpetic/prevention & control
KW - Keratoplasty, Penetrating
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Postoperative Complications/prevention & control
KW - Secondary Prevention
U2 - 10.1016/S0161-6420(03)00798-X
DO - 10.1016/S0161-6420(03)00798-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 14522763
SN - 0161-6420
VL - 110
SP - 1916-9; discussion 1919
JO - Ophthalmology
JF - Ophthalmology
IS - 10
ER -