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


METHODS
Randomized double-blinded clinical trial.


METHODS
Tertiary care institution in New Delhi.


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


METHODS
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.
Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
A
A
Panda
G K
GK
Das
S
S
Khokhar
V
V
Rao
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007065:Idoxuridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009824:Ointments; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014271:Trifluridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009824:Ointments; C020235:brivudine; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D007065:Idoxuridine; D014271:Trifluridine; D000212:Acyclovir