Treatment of fungal keratitis from Fusarium infection by corneal cross-linking.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the efficacy of corneal cross-linking (CXL) (riboflavin-UV-A) as a simple therapy in Fusarium keratitis.

METHODS:

Twenty-four rabbits were systemically anesthetized, and the stromata of their right corneas were inoculated with Fusarium solani [10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter]. Rabbits were divided into 2 groups: one was treated with CXL 72 hours after infection and the other did not receive any treatment (control). All eyes in both the groups were examined before (days 0 and 3) and after (day 7) CXL treatment. The eyes were enucleated, and corneal buttons were sent for microbiological and histological examinations.

RESULTS:

All animals developed Fusarium keratitis; there was no statistically significant difference between groups before treatment (day 0, P = 0.397 and day 3, P = 0.702). After CXL treatment, the difference in clinical scores on day 7 between groups was statistically significant (P = 0.00); the CXL group showed significant lower clinical score. The CXL group had 22.45 ± 5.09 CFU/g compared with 42.5 ± 3.12 CFU/g in the control group; this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01). In the 3 buttons of the control group, similar amounts of Fusarium hyphae and inflammatory cells were observed. In 2 of the 3 buttons analyzed from the CXL group, fewer Fusarium hyphae, inflammatory cells, and nonspecific stromal changes were observed compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Treatment of fungal keratitis with CXL seems to be effective in decreasing the intensity and severity of infectious keratitis by F. solani. This therapy may be useful as a coadjuvant in the medical treatment of resistant infections.

• Authors: Gustavo Galperin, Martín Berra, Julia Tau, Gabriela Boscaro, Jorge Zarate, Alejandro Berra
• Journal: Cornea (Cornea) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 176-80 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1536-4798 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22081155 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Photosensitizing Agents
• Riboflavin

Topics

• Animals
• Colony Count, Microbial
• Disease Models, Animal
• Eye Infections, Fungal (microbiology, radiotherapy)
• Fusariosis (microbiology, radiotherapy)
• Fusarium (isolation & purification)
• Keratitis (microbiology, radiotherapy)
• Photosensitizing Agents (therapeutic use)
• Rabbits
• Riboflavin (therapeutic use)
• Ultraviolet Therapy