title: Treatment of pseudodendrites in herpes zoster ophthalmicus with topical ganciclovir 0.15% gel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is no standard of treatment for epithelial pseudodendrites in herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). The purpose of this study is to report the topical antiviral drug, 0.15% ganciclovir for treatment of these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective, interventional case series of 4 patients who were diagnosed with HZO epithelial pseudodendrites despite being given oral antiviral treatment and who underwent 0.15% ganciclovir gel topical treatment. Main outcome measures included epithelial healing time, visual acuity, and corneal sensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 4 patients were immunocompetent and had epithelial lesions unresponsive to antiviral treatment with oral valacyclovir. Treatment with topical 0.15% ganciclovir gel 5 times a day resulted in the lesions healing successfully within 7 days with improved visual acuity in 3 patients and an increase in corneal sensation in 2 of the 4 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical 0.15% ganciclovir gel, 5 times a day until pseudodendritic lesion healing and tapering to bid for 2 to 4 weeks thereafter, is an effective treatment for pseudodendrites in HZO-affected cases that are often a challenge to manage with other oral or topical antivirals.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, *Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service; and †Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors: Shruti
authors: S
authors: Aggarwal
authors: Bernardo M
authors: BM
authors: Cavalcanti
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Pavan-Langston
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015774:Ganciclovir