Valacyclovir inhibition of recovery of ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 after experimental reactivation by laser in situ keratomileusis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine whether the systemic administration of valacyclovir (Valtrex) reduces ocular shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit latency model.

SETTING:

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

METHODS:

New Zealand White rabbits latently infected with HSV-1 W strain were divided into 3 groups. The first received 100 mg/kg/day of valacyclovir; the second, 200 mg/kg/day of valacyclovir; and the third (control), saline. One half the total dose of valacyclovir was delivered via intraperitoneal injections twice daily for 7 days beginning with 1 dose before LASIK. The HSV-1 ocular shedding was determined from eye cultures for 7 days after LASIK.

RESULTS:

The administration of both 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of valacyclovir significantly reduced the number of eyes (1/16 in both groups) and the total number of HSV-1 shedding days (1/122 and 2/122, respectively) from which HSV-1 was recovered compared to the control group (7/16 [P =.0396] and 14/129 [P <.007], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Systemic administration of valacyclovir significantly reduced HSV-1 ocular shedding after LASIK in the NZW rabbit latency model. The clinical implications of this study suggest that patients with a history of recurrent ocular herpes may be able to safely have LASIK with less risk of a recurrent herpetic episode while on valacyclovir antiviral prophylaxis.

• Authors: D K Dhaliwal, E G Romanowski, K A Yates, D Hu, F S Mah, D N Fish, Y J Gordon
• Journal: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery (J Cataract Refract Surg) Vol. 27 Issue 8 Pg. 1288-93 (Aug 2001) ISSN: 0886-3350 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11524202 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Valine
• Valacyclovir
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cornea (surgery, virology)
• Female
• Herpesvirus 1, Human (drug effects, growth & development)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Keratitis, Herpetic (drug therapy, virology)
• Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ
• Rabbits
• Valacyclovir
• Valine (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Virus Activation (drug effects)
• Virus Shedding (drug effects)