title: Physician survey for study of suppressive antiviral treatment to reduce chronic ocular disease and postherpetic neuralgia after herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a consensus regarding the appropriate regimen to evaluate long-term suppressive antiviral treatment to reduce complications from herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) and identify potential study sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  In January 2013, a survey of 13 questions was distributed among cornea fellowship directors, board members of the Cornea Society and Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, and Kera-net Listserv members. Questions identified respondents' preferred antiviral regimens to administer for chronic or recurrent HZO, gauged the level of interest in participation in a planned randomized clinical trial, and assessed the number of HZO patients treated among specialists in the past year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 171 respondents who completed the questionnaire, the majority identified as Kera-net Listserv members (107 of 171, 63%) and cornea fellowship directors (46 of 171, 27%). First choice of treatment was valacyclovir 500 mg 2 times per day (61 of 171, 36%), followed by acyclovir 800 mg 2 times per day (56 of 171, 33%), and then valacyclovir 1,000 mg daily (26.9%, 46 of 171). Among the choices, famciclovir consistently placed last among all the respondents (7 of 171, 4%). A majority (106 of 171, 62%) of all respondents, including 70% (26 of 37) of U. S. respondents of the high-volume practices, were interested in participating in a future randomized clinical trial evaluating whether treatment with oral antiviral medications for 1 year decreases complications of HZO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey highlights the strong interest in and support for further study of suppressive antiviral treatment regimens to reduce complications of HZO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sackel
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castano
authors.forename: Elisabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000077595:Famciclovir; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D000077595:Famciclovir; D000212:Acyclovir