Herpes simplex virus dermatitis in patients using latanoprost.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the possible association of latanoprost with herpetic dermatitis of the periocular skin.


METHODS
Interventional case reports. A 79-year-old woman with open-angle glaucoma developed a vesicular dermatitis of the left lower eyelid 14 months after starting latanoprost therapy. An 84-year-old man with pigmentary glaucoma developed a vesicular dermatitis of the right upper lid after 2 months of treatment with latanoprost and 8 days of treatment with tobramycin/dexamethasone for presumed bacterial conjunctivitis. In both cases, the dermatitis was characteristic of a herpetic infection.


RESULTS
Latanoprost was discontinued in both cases. The woman was treated with vidarabine 3% ointment, and the man was not treated with antiviral agents. In both patients, the dermatitis healed uneventfully. The lesions of the man were cultured, and a biopsy was performed; herpes simplex virus type 1 was recovered from the culture and confirmed by immunofluorescence testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Latanoprost, which has been associated with reactivation of herpetic keratitis, may also cause reactivation of herpetic dermatitis of the periocular skin.
Morales
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Shihab
Z M
ZM
Brown
S M
SM
Hodges
M R
MR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost; D014740:Vidarabine