title: Treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis by corneal cross-linking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of corneal cross-linking (CXL; riboflavin/ultraviolet A) as a simple therapy for Acanthamoeba keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty rabbits were systemically anesthetized and the stroma of their right corneas was inoculated with a suspension of Acanthamoeba. Rabbits were divided into 2 groups: one group was treated with corneal CXL 3 days after infection and the other did not receive any treatment (control). All eyes in both groups were examined before (days 0 and 3) and after (day 7) CXL treatment. On day 7, the eyes were enucleated; 18 corneal buttons (9 of each group) were sent for microbiological examination and 2 (1 of each group) for histopathologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals developed Acanthamoeba keratitis. There was no statistically significant difference between groups before treatment (day 0, P = 1, and day 3, P = 0.684). The treated corneas had a higher score (3.48 ± 0.30) at the time of enucleation compared with control corneas (2.60 ± 0.26). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.008). Microbiological analysis revealed that the treated corneas had a higher protozoal count (2.86 ± 0.09) compared with the control corneas (2.18 ± 0.07); this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis by corneal CXL (riboflavin/ultraviolet A) did not prove effective in decreasing the intensity and severity of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Oculares, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. martinberra81@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galperín
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boscaro
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tau
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiaradia
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berra
mesh_terms: D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003094:Collagen; D012256:Riboflavin