Valacyclovir inhibition of recovery of ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 after experimental reactivation by laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the systemic administration of valacyclovir (Valtrex) reduces ocular shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit latency model.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.


METHODS
New Zealand White rabbits latently infected with HSV-1 W strain were divided into 3 groups. The first received 100 mg/kg/day of valacyclovir; the second, 200 mg/kg/day of valacyclovir; and the third (control), saline. One half the total dose of valacyclovir was delivered via intraperitoneal injections twice daily for 7 days beginning with 1 dose before LASIK. The HSV-1 ocular shedding was determined from eye cultures for 7 days after LASIK.


RESULTS
The administration of both 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of valacyclovir significantly reduced the number of eyes (1/16 in both groups) and the total number of HSV-1 shedding days (1/122 and 2/122, respectively) from which HSV-1 was recovered compared to the control group (7/16 [P =.0396] and 14/129 [P <.007], respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic administration of valacyclovir significantly reduced HSV-1 ocular shedding after LASIK in the NZW rabbit latency model. The clinical implications of this study suggest that patients with a history of recurrent ocular herpes may be able to safely have LASIK with less risk of a recurrent herpetic episode while on valacyclovir antiviral prophylaxis.
Dhaliwal
D K
DK
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203, USA. dhaliwaldk@msx.upmc.edu
Romanowski
E G
EG
Yates
K A
KA
Hu
D
D
Mah
F S
FS
Fish
D N
DN
Gordon
Y J
YJ
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D011817:Rabbits; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017201:Virus Shedding / Q000187:drug effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir