title: Chronic ocular zoster.
abstract: In a prospective open trial 40 patients suffering from acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus were treated with systemic acyclovir. An additional 10 patients were treated by topical acyclovir alone and dexamethasone eye-drops were administered to 5 of them to suppress ocular inflammation. In the topical treatment group the period of new skin lesion formation and progression of ocular inflammatory signs were significantly prolonged. Therapy with systemic acyclovir however resulted in a quick and complete resolution of ocular inflammation in all patients. Chronic ocular inflammation developed in 4 out of 10 patients treated with topical acyclovir. We consider chronic ocular zoster as a distinct clinical entity, possibly expressing a failing local immune response against VZV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zaal
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Maudgal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rietveld
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Suir
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015423:Scleritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C020235:brivudine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D000212:Acyclovir