Korean J Ophthalmol.  2018 Oct;32(5):353-360. 10.3341/kjo.2017.0131.

Clinical Features of Herpes Simplex Keratitis in a Korean Tertiary Referral Center: Efficacy of Oral Antiviral and Ascorbic Acid on Recurrence

• Kim GN
• Yoo WS
• Park MH
• Chung JK
• Han YS
• Chung IY
• Seo SW
• Yoo JM
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2422064
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2017.0131

Abstract

PURPOSE
To describe the clinical manifestations of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) in a tertiary referral center in South Korea and to determine whether ascorbic acid treatment prevents recurrence of herpetic epithelial keratitis.
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients with herpetic keratitis referred to our center from January 2010 to January 2015. Clinical features, ocular complications, and recurrences were recorded.
RESULTS
In total, 149 eyes of the 133 patients (72 male and 61 female) were followed for an average of 24.6 ± 13.2 months. Sixteen (12.0%) patients had bilateral HSK. The most frequent HSK subtype was epithelial keratitis (49.7%), which was followed by stromal keratitis (23.5%). Epithelial keratitis was the most likely subtype to recur. Complications occurred in 122 (81.9%) eyes. The most common complication was corneal opacity. Recurrences were observed in 48 (32.2%) eyes. The recurrence rates were lower in the prophylactic oral antiviral agent group (16 / 48 eyes, 33.3% vs. 49 / 101 eyes, 48.5%) and the ascorbic acid treatment group (13 / 48 eyes, 27.1% vs. 81 / 101 eyes, 70.3%) compared with the groups without medications. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both factors significantly reduced the risk of recurrence (acyclovir: odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence intervals, 0.12 to 0.51; ascorbic acid: odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence intervals, 0.20 to 0.91).
CONCLUSIONS
This retrospective study described the clinical findings of HSK in a tertiary referral center in South Korea. Prophylactic oral antiviral agent treatment and oral ascorbic acid administration may lower the risk of recurrence.

Keyword

Acyclovir; Ascorbic acid; Keratitis, herpetic; Recurrence

MeSH Terms

Acyclovir
Ascorbic Acid*
Cohort Studies
Corneal Opacity
Herpes Simplex*
Humans
Keratitis
Keratitis, Herpetic*
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Odds Ratio
Recurrence*
Retrospective Studies
Tertiary Care Centers*
Acyclovir
Ascorbic Acid

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