title: Acyclovir treatment for linear endotheliitis on grafted corneas.
abstract: Two patients with previous corneal transplants developed unusual rejection-like episodes of the grafted cornea. Both had a migrating line of keratic precipitates and stromal edema involving both the donor and recipient corneas. Intensive steroid treatment attained little effect, but oral acyclovir treatment dramatically suppressed the disease process. The facts suggest that a virus-related immune mechanism against both the donor and recipient endothelia, rather than simple allograft rejection, may have been responsible for the clinical presentations. Oral acyclovir therapy might be considered in patients with steroid-nonresponsive corneal endotheliitis mimicking allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications
chemical_list: D000212:Acyclovir