title: [Local cyclosporin A therapy in Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis--a pilot study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the purpose of this prospective study to evaluate the effect of topical Ciclosporin 2% on epithelial and subepithelial opacities in Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered Ciclosporin A 2% eye drops to 31 eyes of 17 patients with Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. The initial dose was 3 drops daily during the first month. It was reduced according to the following scheme: 2 drops in the second month, 1 drop in the third month, 1 drop every second day in the fourth to sixth months. Thereafter therapy was stopped.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The opacities were suppressed completely in 21/31 eyes mostly after 4 weeks of therapy and incompletely in 8/31 eyes. Of the 21 eyes with complete suppression, 6/21 showed recurrent opacities when therapy was stopped after six months. 7/21 eyes had no recurrences after cessation of therapy. Follow-up of 8 eyes is currently less than 6 months and these eyes still receive Ciclosporin A 2% eye drops. All patients complained of a slight burning caused by the drops.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the majority of patients with Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis topical Ciclosporin A 2% suppresses epithelial and subepithelial opacities as long as this non-steroid therapy is administered at a low dose. In a considerable percentage therapy seems to be curative.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik der Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sundmacher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016572:Cyclosporine
vernacular_title: Lokale Ciclosporin A Therapie bei Keratitis superficialis punctata Thygeson--eine Pilotstudie.