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Long-term acyclovir helps decrease ocular herpes recurrence

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Long-term use of acyclovir remained effective beyond 12 months in decreasing the number of recurrences of ocular herpes simplex virus, according to a study.

Uchoandro Uchoa, MD, and colleagues at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia retrospectively reviewed the charts of two groups of patients. The first group used oral acyclovir for at least 12 months, then discontinued the treatment. The second group used the drug for at least 18 months.

Group 1 patients had a mean follow-up of 45 months; group 2 had a mean follow-up of 42 months. Six patients in group 1 and four patients in group 2 had a recurrence within the first 12 months. From the 12th to the 18th month, 14 patients in group 1 (78%) and eight patients in group 2 (36%) had recurrences.

The study is published in the December issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.