Update on management of herpes keratitis in children:

Clinical Features of Pediatric Age Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis

PURPOSE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical features of pediatric herpes simplex virus keratitis, its recurrence rates, and its effects on visual acuity.

METHODS

In this retrospective case series, records of pediatric patients (0-16 years) who presented with herpes simplex virus keratitis between January 2012 and September 2021 were evaluated. Data including age, gender, additional systemic diseases, the number of recurrences, recurrence time, treatment protocol, follow-up period, and presence of amblyopia were reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients (16 females and 8 males) with a mean age of 6.6 ± 4 (1.1-15) years were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 21 ± 19.9 (7-94) months. Four patients (16.6%) had bilateral keratitis. Including all 4 patients with bilateral involvement, a total of 10 (41.6%) patients had additional systemic diseases that cause immunodeficiency. After prophylactic antiviral treatment for at least 6 months (except for isolated epithelial keratitis), recurrence was detected in 5 (22.7%) patients, who were all immunodeficient. Among immunodeficient individuals, the recurrence rate was found to be 50%. Keratitis recurrence was significantly associated with immunodeficiency ( P = 0.03). However, type of keratitis ( P = 0.42), gender ( P = 0.47), and bilaterality ( P = 0.54) were not related with recurrence. 66.7% of the patients younger than 10 years developed amblyopia during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In childhood, the most frequent corneal manifestation of herpes simplex virus is stromal keratitis that mostly progresses with corneal scarring, residual astigmatism, and amblyopia. The recurrence rate increases in the presence of immunosuppression. Close follow-up, rapid diagnosis, and treatment are critical for battling against amblyopia and achieving good visual prognosis.

Herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus keratitis: Facts for the clinician

Keratitis due to Herpes simplex virus (HSK), Varicella-Zoster virus (VZK) and Cytomegalovirus remains a frequent source of concern for many ophthalmologists. They are a frequent cause of emergency consultations at eye care centers and carry the risk of permanent loss of visual acuity or visual quality and/or chronic neurotrophic keratitis, resulting in a significant decrease in the quality of life. HSK and VZK can affect the corneal epithelium, stroma, or endothelium or a combination of layers. In contrast, most cases of CMV keratitis present as isolated endothelitis (CMVE), a clinical entity that has been described within the last 2 decades. These three types of viral keratitis are characterized by a high frequency of recurrences and each new episode increases the risk of sequelae. Hence, ophthalmologists must adapt the treatment to the clinical presentation of each recurrent episode in order to mitigate the immediate consequences of viral replication and the immune response on corneal transparency. In patients with frequent recurrences, preventive long-term antiviral treatment is strongly recommended. However, in some rare cases, continuous exposure to antivirals may promote the emergence of resistant viral strains, which can be difficult to manage. In the future, the introduction of new antiviral drugs, with differing modes of action compared to current medical therapy, could be an alternative until a truly effective preventive solution, such as a vaccine, is available.

Impact of Adherence (Compliance) to Oral Acyclovir Prophylaxis in the Recurrence of Herpetic Keratitis: Long-Term Results From a Pediatric Cohort

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term role of adherence to oral acyclovir prophylaxis in reducing the risk for recurrent herpes simplex virus keratitis (HSK) in children.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed including all pediatric patients 16 years or younger) with their first HSK diagnosis and treatment at our center. Children were started on a standardized oral acyclovir prophylactic regimen after the acute phase. Adherence to prophylaxis was assessed monthly through parent interviews. The possible association between any recurrence (not only the first) and exposure to acyclovir prophylaxis was evaluated using random-effects multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 20 eyes of 17 patients (8 boys and 9 girls) were included. The mean follow-up time was 3.5 years. Adherence to acyclovir prophylaxis was registered in 100% of patients with no recurrences and in 36.4% of patients with 1 or more recurrences (P = 0.035). All other tested variables (time of follow-up, sex, age, infectious diseases, underlying hematological diseases, eye, and HSK type) did not differ between the 2 groups. The multivariate model confirmed the lower risk for recurrence in patients who were compliant to therapy (adjusted odds ratio 0.04, 95% confidence intervals 0.00-0.42, P = 0.008). No adverse effects were recorded during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral acyclovir prophylaxis is a safe and an effective medical treatment for recurrent HSK and its long-term efficacy is associated with compliance to the therapy.

Management of Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis in the Pediatric Population

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis is a highly prevalent and visually disabling disease in both the pediatric and adult population. While many studies have investigated the treatment of HSV keratitis in adult patients, few have focused on managing this condition in children. Children are at particularly high risk for visual morbidity due to unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment, and the often more aggressive disease course that results in corneal scarring, and subsequently amblyopia. This review presents the pathogenesis and most current recommendations for the medical and surgical management of HSV keratitis in the pediatric population.

[Lacrimal and salivatory glycoproteins in ophthalmic herpes]

AIM

to compare tear, saliva, and plasma levels of acute phase proteins (APPs) of inflammation in patients with herpes keratitis and to use the RESULTS in treatment evaluation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

APPs were measured in tears, oral fluid, and blood plasma from 22 adults and 34 children with ophthalmic herpes as well as 68 healthy controls using immunoturbidimetric and spectrophotometric methods of detection.

RESULTS

High levels of C-reactive protein and orosomucoid, low levels of ceruloplasmin, α1-antitrypsin, and transferrin in tears from patients with herpes keratitis as well as abnormal tear, saliva, and plasma APPs levels at discharge are poor prognostic signs. They all indicate that corneal inflammation is still intense and that the treatment should not be ceased yet. Severity of APPs concentration changes in tear from patients with herpes keratitis correlates with the depth of corneal lesions, recurrence rate, and disease dynamics.

CONCLUSION

Quantitative determination of acute phase proteins in tear and oral fluid is an early and sensitive inflammation test and may be also used for non-invasive monitoring and antiviral treatment evaluation. Oral fluid allows to extend the capabilities of non-invasive diagnostics of ophthalmic herpes.

Clinical efficacy of oral ganciclovir for prophylaxis and treatment of recurrent herpes simplex keratitis

Background:

Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which has high recurrent rate and incidence of severe vision loss, is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. The aim was to explore the clinical efficacy of oral ganciclovir (GCV) in the prevention of recurrent HSK.

Methods:

A multicenter, prospective, randomized, single-blind, and controlled clinical trial was conducted from April 2010 to June 2013. One hundred seventy-three patients (173 eyes involved) who were diagnosed as recurrent HSK definitely, including stromal keratitis and corneal endotheliitis, were divided into three groups randomly: negative control (placebo) group was topically administered with 0.15% GCV ophthalmic gel, 4 times per day and 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops, 3 times per day until resolution of HSK; positive control acyclovir (ACV) group was topically adopted the same ophthalmic gel and eye drops and additionally received oral ACV 400 mg 5 times a day for 10 weeks and followed by 400 mg 2 times per day for 6 months; test GCV group was topically adopted the same treatment as negative control group and additionally received oral GCV 1000 mg 3 times per day for 8 weeks. The symptoms and signs were evaluated before and after the therapy 1^st week, 2^nd week and then followed up every 2 weeks until recovery. Furthermore, we followed up recurrence of HSK for every 3 months after recovery and then assessed the cure time, recurrent rate and adverse reactions.

Results:

One hundred and seventy-three patients were followed up 7–48 months (mean 32.1 ± 12.3 months), but 34 patients were failed to follow-up. The cure time was 12.1 ± 4.3, 11.9 ± 4.0 weeks in negative control (placebo) group and positive control ACV group respectively (P = 0.991), which was longer than that in test GCV group (8.6 ± 2.8 weeks) and there was a significant difference between test GCV group and negative control (placebo) group or positive control ACV group (P = 0.000). Furthermore, the recurrent rate was higher in negative control (placebo) group (47.3%) than that in positive control group ACV (26.7%) and test GCV group (17.2%), and there was a great significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.007), but there was no significant difference between positive control ACV group and test GCV group (P = 0.358). In addition, there was no obvious adverse reaction expect neutropenia (only one patient in test GCV group).

Conclusion:

Short-term oral GCV could cure recurrent HSK and endotheliitis, shorten the course, reduce recurrent rate of HSK and have confirmed safety.

Antiviral treatment and other therapeutic interventions for herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis

BACKGROUND

Eye disease due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) commonly presents as epithelial keratitis which, though usually self-limiting, may persist or progress without treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the relative effectiveness of antiviral agents, interferon, and corneal debridement in the treatment of HSV epithelial keratitis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (2014, Issue 12), PubMed (January 1946 to 31 December 2014), EMBASE (January 1980 to 31 December 2014), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (January 1982 to 31 December 2014), System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (OpenGrey) (January 1995 to 31 December 2014), BIOSIS (January 1926 to 5 May 2014), Scopus (January 1966 to 31 December 2014), Japan Science and Technology Institute (J-Global) (January 1975 to 31 December 2014), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (January 1979 to 31 December 2014), British Library's Electronic Table of Contents (Zetoc) (January 1993 to 7 May 2014). We looked for trials listed on the the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en), Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (www.fda.gov/), National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (www.

EVIDENCE

nhs.uk) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (www.ema.europa.eu/ema/) as of 31 December 2014. There were no language or date restrictions in the search for trials. We also culled literature digests and conference proceedings as of 15 April 2014. There were no language or date restrictions in the search for trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and quasi-randomised trials of HSV dendritic or geographic epithelial keratitis were included that reported the proportion of eyes healed at one week, two weeks, or both after enrolment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We tabulated data on study characteristics, risk of bias, and outcomes and used direct comparisons to estimate a risk ratio (RR) and, when feasible, a hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed by an inconsistency index. A multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis consolidated direct and indirect comparisons of relative healing at 14 days.

MAIN RESULTS

One hundred thirty-seven studies involving 8333 eyes met the inclusion criteria. Placebo-controlled studies were heterogeneous in comparison with idoxuridine (RR 1.74; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.91) and few in number for vidarabine (RR 1.81; 95% CI 1.09 to 3.01), interferon (RR 1.32; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.64), and debridement. Vidarabine (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.25), trifluridine (RR 1.30; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.43), acyclovir (RR 1.23; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.34), and brivudine (RR 1.34; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.51) were more effective than idoxuridine. Trifluridine (RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.32) and acyclovir (RR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.19) were more effective than vidarabine. No significant differences in healing emerged among trifluridine, acyclovir, brivudine, and foscarnet although few studies compared brivudine or foscarnet with other antivirals. Any potential advantage of ganciclovir compared to acyclovir was mitigated by study heterogeneity and possible publication bias. Only one study evaluated the joint use of two topical antivirals. In a limited number of studies, oral acyclovir (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.07) or the combination of oral acyclovir with a topical antiviral (RR 1.36; 95% CI 0.68 to 2.74) appeared as effective as a single topical antiviral agent. Compared to topical antiviral monotherapy, the combination of an antiviral with either interferon or debridement had inconsistent effects on expediting healing and improving outcome.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Placebo-controlled studies of HSV epithelial keratitis are limited to superseded interventions. Trifluridine and acyclovir are more effective than idoxuridine or vidarabine and similar in therapeutic effectiveness. Brivudine and foscarnet do not substantially differ in effectiveness from trifluridine or acyclovir. Ganciclovir is at least as effective as acyclovir. The addition of interferon to a nucleoside antiviral agent and the combination of debridement with antiviral treatment need to be further assessed to substantiate any possible advantage in healing.

Ocular herpes: the pathophysiology, management and treatment of herpetic eye diseases

Herpesviruses are a prominent cause of human viral disease, second only to the cold and influenza viruses. Most herpesvirus infections are mild or asymptomatic. However, when the virus invades the eye, a number of pathologies can develop and its associated sequelae have become a considerable source of ocular morbidity. The most common culprits of herpetic eye disease are the herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). While primary infection can produce ocular disease, the most destructive manifestations tend to arise from recurrent infection. These recurrent infections can wreck devastating effects and lead to irreversible vision loss accompanied by a decreased quality of life, increased healthcare usage, and significant cost burden. Unfortunately, no method currently exists to eradicate herpesviruses from the body after infection. Treatment and management of herpes-related eye conditions continue to revolve around antiviral drugs, although corticosteroids, interferons, and other newer therapies may also be appropriate depending on the disease presentation. Ultimately, the advent of effective vaccines will be crucial to preventing herpesvirus diseases altogether and cutting the incidence of ocular complications.

Atopic dermatitis: skin-directed management

Atopic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by relapsing eczematous lesions in a typical distribution. It can be frustrating for pediatric patients, parents, and health care providers alike. The pediatrician will treat the majority of children with atopic dermatitis as many patients will not have access to a pediatric medical subspecialist, such as a pediatric dermatologist or pediatric allergist. This report provides up-to-date information regarding the disease and its impact, pathogenesis, treatment options, and potential complications. The goal of this report is to assist pediatricians with accurate and useful information that will improve the care of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Herpes simplex virus drug-resistance: new mutations and insights

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acyclovir (ACV) is the first-line treatment for the management of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) diseases. Long-term administration of the drug for the treatment of chronic infections in the immunocompromised host can lead to the development of ACV-resistance. This review provides an update of the mutations linked to drug-resistance and issues to be considered in the management of HSV infections refractory to antiviral therapy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent data have shown that HSV drug-resistance should be taken into account not only in immunocompromised individuals but also in immunocompetent persons when HSV infections involve 'immune-privileged sites'. Thus, drug-resistance typing is recommended in cases of ACV unresponsive herpetic keratitis and herpes simplex encephalitis. Several issues regarding HSV drug-resistance were highlighted by recent studies. Phenotypic and genotypic antiviral resistance may vary not only from different compartments but also over time, highlighting the importance of characterizing longitudinal HSV isolates from all sites. Combination therapy should be considered when viruses with distinct phenotype/genotype are identified at one or at distinct body sites.

SUMMARY

Surveillance of HSV drug-resistance is highly recommended in immunocompromised patients and in immunocompetent individuals with infections implicating 'immune-privileged sites' to rationally adapt antiviral treatment.