Efficacy of four antiviral agents in the treatment of uncomplicated herpetic keratitis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of four antiviral agents--1% idoxuridine ointment (group 1), 2% trifluorothymidine ointment (group 2), 3% acyclovir ointment (group 3) and 1% bromovinyldeoxyuridine (BVDU) ointment (group 4)--in herpes simplex keratitis.

DESIGN:

Randomized double-blinded clinical trial.

SETTING:

Tertiary care institution in New Delhi.

PATIENTS:

Eighty patients with uncomplicated herpes simplex keratitis of recent onset who had not previously received antiviral treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Cure rate, frequency and severity of side effects.

RESULTS:

Cure rates of 60%, 90%, 90% and 95% were obtained in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The average healing time was 13.4, 8.9, 8.5 and 7.5 days respectively. Side effects (follicular conjunctivitis, epithelial keratopathy and stinging) were more frequent in group 1 than in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

BVDU has a more pronounced therapeutic effect than idoxuridine, trifluorothymidine and acyclovir in uncomplicated epithelial herpetic disease of recent onset that has not previously been treated.

• Authors: A Panda, G K Das, S Khokhar, V Rao
• Journal: Canadian journal of ophthalmology. Journal canadien d'ophtalmologie (Can J Ophthalmol) Vol. 30 Issue 5 Pg. 256-8 (Aug 1995) ISSN: 0008-4182 [Print] England
• PMID: 8529160 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Ointments
• brivudine
• Bromodeoxyuridine
• Idoxuridine
• Trifluridine
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Bromodeoxyuridine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Idoxuridine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Keratitis, Herpetic (drug therapy)
• Ointments
• Treatment Failure
• Trifluridine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)