title: Treatment of fungal keratitis from Fusarium infection by corneal cross-linking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of corneal cross-linking (CXL) (riboflavin-UV-A) as a simple therapy in Fusarium keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four rabbits were systemically anesthetized, and the stromata of their right corneas were inoculated with Fusarium solani [10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter]. Rabbits were divided into 2 groups: one was treated with CXL 72 hours after infection and the other did not receive any treatment (control). All eyes in both the groups were examined before (days 0 and 3) and after (day 7) CXL treatment. The eyes were enucleated, and corneal buttons were sent for microbiological and histological examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals developed Fusarium keratitis; there was no statistically significant difference between groups before treatment (day 0, P = 0.397 and day 3, P = 0.702). After CXL treatment, the difference in clinical scores on day 7 between groups was statistically significant (P = 0.00); the CXL group showed significant lower clinical score. The CXL group had 22.45 ± 5.09 CFU/g compared with 42.5 ± 3.12 CFU/g in the control group; this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01). In the 3 buttons of the control group, similar amounts of Fusarium hyphae and inflammatory cells were observed. In 2 of the 3 buttons analyzed from the CXL group, fewer Fusarium hyphae, inflammatory cells, and nonspecific stromal changes were observed compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of fungal keratitis with CXL seems to be effective in decreasing the intensity and severity of infectious keratitis by F. solani. This therapy may be useful as a coadjuvant in the medical treatment of resistant infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Oculares, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galperin
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tau
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boscaro
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D060585:Fusariosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007634:Keratitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012256:Riboflavin