Posters

Role of topical ganciclovir (0.15%) gel in adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis

Poster Details

First Author: A.Gupta INDIA

Co Author(s):    S. Tayal   A. Thakur   S. Handa   A. Mehta Grenwal   J. Ram   C. Malhotra     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To report the clinical profile, safety, efficacy and outcome of Ganciclovir (0.15%) gel in adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis.

Setting:

This study was carried out on patients of acute Adenoviral Keratoconjunctivitis presenting to the Advanced Eye Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Methods:

We included 40 eyes (40 patients) clinically diagnosed as adenoviral conjunctivitis. Adenovirus was confirmed using RT-PCR from conjunctival swab in all eyes. Two treatment groups were allocated: Group 1 (20 patients, Ganciclovir (0.15%) gel), and Group 2 (20 patients, placebo - Carbomer gel). All eyes were treated for 10 days from the onset of the disease and followed up on day 10 and 21. Topical steroids were administered for pseudomembranes and/or subepithelial infiltrates. At every visit, both groups were compared for differences in severity of signs, symptoms, and complications as well as viral load using chi square and t test.

Results:

We found a small but non-significant improvement in all symptoms, including burning, itching, tearing, foreign body sensation, photophobia, blurring of vision and pain, as well as signs including conjunctival hyperemia, secretion and conjunctival edema in the Ganciclovir group. All patients developed sub-epithelial infiltrates by 10th day, however the severity of epithelial involvement was lesser in Ganciclovir treated group (p>0.05). Pseudo-membranes in the control group were more complicated and severe as compared to the study group although the difference was not statistically significant. We also found greater reduction in viral load on day 10 in Ganciclovir Gel group (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

Ganciclovir gel 0.15% had a small but non-significant impact on the clinical signs, symptoms and disease duration in adenoviral conjunctivitis. However, Ganciclovir gel appears to decrease the severity of epithelial complications associated with adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. In addition, we found Ganciclovir (0.15%) gel to be safe and well tolerated.

Financial Disclosure:

None