Seventy-three patients with herpetic epithelial
keratitis were randomly divided into three groups and were treated by local applications of human
leukocyte interferon, thermocautery plus human
leukocyte interferon, or thermocautery plus mock human
leukocyte interferon to obtain information on whether
therapy with human
leukocyte interferon can serve as a substitute for mechanical
debridement of the involved epithelium or can improve the results when given as additional
therapy. Fifty-five patients (75%) yielded herpes simplex virus before treatment, and only the results in these patients with
keratitis of proved viral etiology were included in the analysis. These results indicated that mechanical
debridement cannot be replaced with local application of human
leukocyte interferon (3-4 X 10(4) units per day). When given in addition to thermocautery, human
leukocyte interferon may have been of some value in a number of patients. However, the results were not statistically significant. A more potent dosage of human
leukocyte interferon might provide better results.