Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and local tolerance of the 0.15% ganciclovir gel versus 3% acyclovir ointment in the treatment of epithelial herpetic keratitis. Methods:Twenty seven patients with epithelial herpetic keratitis diagnosis were included. All patients selected had a clinical course less than 8 days and were over fifteen years old. Patients with severe stromal involvement, uveitis or methaherpetic ulcer were excluded. Two treatment groups were stablished: one with ganciclovir gel (group 1) and one with acyclovir ointment (group 2). A single observer evaluated the healing rate, the mean healing time and the adverse effects of both drugs. Results:Nineteen patients were assessed: Ten patients in group 1 and nine patients for group 2; eight patients were excluded secondarily. The healing rate was 71% for group one and 69.2% for group two. The mean healing time was 9 days for group 1 and 10 days for group 2. The adverse effects were: discomfort and local irritation. Local tolerance was found to be superior in group 1 with less complaints of discomfort and without signs of local irritation. Conclusion:Ganciclovir gel is as good as the acyclovir ointment for the treatment of epithelial herpetic keratitis with a superior comfort and without local irritation this last facts will improve the treatment compliance, and therefore, a shorter course of the epithelial disease.
Keywords: 322 antiviral drugs • 425 herpes simplex virus • 353 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications