title: Effect of oral acyclovir after penetrating keratoplasty for herpetic keratitis: a placebo-controlled multicenter trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prophylactic effect of oral acyclovir on the recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease after penetrating keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight consecutive patients (68 eyes) with corneal opacities due to herpetic eye disease who underwent penetrating keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral acyclovir 400 mg twice daily or placebo tablets for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease-related events and rejection episodes, proven by viral cell culture or polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 2-year follow-up period, there were 3 culture-proven herpetic eye disease recurrences in the acyclovir group and 9 in the placebo group. Lifetime survival analysis of the probability of remaining free from recurrence revealed a significantly reduced risk of recurrent herpetic disease in the acyclovir-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that oral acyclovir effectively prevents herpes-related recurrences after penetrating keratoplasty in herpetic eye disease.
authors.affiliation: The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Schiedamsevest 180, 3011 BH Rotterdam, The Netherlands. drjoe403@xs4all.nl
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Rooij
authors.forename: Wilhelmina J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Rijneveld
authors.forename: Lies
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Remeijer
authors.forename: Henny J M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Völker-Dieben
authors.forename: Catrien A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Eggink
authors.forename: Annette J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Geerards
authors.forename: Paul G H
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Doornenbal
authors.forename: W Houdijn
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Beekhuis
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir