GRAFT SURVIVAL AFTER PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY

Graft-to-host transmission of herpes simplex virus (HSV) seems to represent a real phenomenon with the potential to have a major negative impact on graft survival after penetrating keratoplasy, according to Berthhold Seitz MD.
"To enable an appropriate prophylactic acyclovir treatment in distinct cases after PKP, we advocate the screening of patient and donor corneas for HSV-1 by use of polymerase chain reaction testing," he told the European Society of Ophthalmology meeting in Vienna.
Dr Seitz warned, however, that resistance to acyclovir may occur during long-term prophylaxis, especially in immuno-compromised patients.
 He noted that HSV is a very frequent cause of unilateral keratitis and is often a bilateral occurrence in childhood. 
"'Herpetic keratitis can be treated quite well given that the various forms of appearance are known and the therapeutic regimens both medical and surgical are adequately chosen," he said.