title: Riboflavin/UVA photochemical therapy for severe infectious keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the antibacterial activity of treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet A light (UVA) in cases of severe infectious keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed of an interventional case series in which 6 eyes of 6 patients with severe infectious keratitis, all of whom were refractive to multidrug conventional therapy, were treated with riboflavin/UVA. The procedure was conducted according to the standardized protocol of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) for keratoconus. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity and clinical outcomes were evaluated before and during the follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five of the 6 patients showed rapid reduction in symptoms and decreased infiltrate size after riboflavin/UVA photochemical therapy. Signs of infection and inflammation mostly resolved within 1 to 2 weeks after the treatment. Despite this therapy, one patient continued to deteriorate, and penetrating keratoplasty was performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adjunctive use of riboflavin/UVA photochemical therapy has a positive effect on refractory infectious keratitis. The treatment seems to be safe and effective and should be considered as part of the first-line therapy in severe cases of infectious keratitis.
authors.affiliation: 2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv - Israel.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skaat
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zadok
authors.forename: Yakov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goldich
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Varssano
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ezra-Nimni
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Avni
authors.forename: Irina S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Barequet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012706:Serratia marcescens; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012256:Riboflavin