Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel (Virgan; 0.15%) in the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis.

PURPOSE: Ganciclovir is a broad-spectrum virustatic agent. Its efficacy and safety after ocular application have been demonstrated in studies of herpetic keratitis in rabbits. Two strengths of ganciclovir gel (0.05 and 0.15%) were compared with 3% acyclovir ointment in the treatment of superficial herpes simplex keratitis in humans. METHODS: Two multicenter randomized clinical trials were carried out in Africa (Trial 1) and Europe (Trial 2). Sixty-seven patients (Trial 1) and 37 patients (Trial 2) from herpetic ulceration were recruited. RESULTS: The results showed no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups, although the healing rates tended to be better in the group receiving 0.15% ganciclovir gel, with healing rates of 85% (Trial 1) and 83% (Trial 2) as compared with 72% (Trial 1) and 71% (Trial 2) in the group receiving acyclovir ointment. Local tolerance was found to be superior with the gel formulation of ganciclovir with fewer complaints of discomfort (stinging, burning) or blurred vision after application of the drug. Systemic absorption of the drug was low. No hematologic changes were detected. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the efficacy of ganciclovir gel in the treatment of ulcerative herpes simplex keratitis and demonstrate its superior local tolerance when compared with acyclovir ointment.

[Conjunctival dirofilariasis, a case discovered in the Kairouan region]. / Dirofilariose sous conjonctivale à propos d'un cas découvert dans la région de Kairouan.

A case of conjunctival dirofilariasis was reported in a 55 years old patient, from Kairouan. The human dirofilariasis comes always and only from animals. In most cases, the dirofilariasis is localised under the skin; the ocular localisation of the disease is rare or exceptional. The authors discuss the epidemiology and describe the possible ocular localisation of the dirofilariasis.

[Hereditary maculopathy in typical retinitis pigmentosa. Apropos of 40 cases]. / L'hérédité de la maculopathie dans la rétinopathie pigmentaire typique. A propos de 40 cas.

The authors have studied the hereditary mode of transmission of 40 maculopathy associated to typical pigmentary retinopathy. The genealogic tree was established for each case along with a complete exam. The three types of modes found were: 12.5% dominant autosomal, 15% recessive autosomal, 72.5% sporadic. The authors discussed the different mode of hereditary transmission in a family of three generations. They point out the difficulties of the genetic investigations and concluded that the maculopathy doesn't have a specific transmission mode in the typical retinitis pigmentosa.

[Preliminary study on the effect of 1% indomethacin eyedrops in surgery of glaucoma]. / Etude préliminaire de l'effet de l'indométacine collyre à 1% dans la chirurgie du glaucome.

Indomethacin collyrium, a powerful inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, was used successfully in many applications. The authors evaluated its action in the surgery of glaucoma. Two groups of patients had a trabeculectomy. The first group received instillation of indomethacin; the second was a control group. Four parameters were evaluated and compared in both groups: 1. Inflammatory state of the anterior chamber (AC). 2. Anterior chamber depth. 3. Filtration bleb state. 4. Intra-ocular pressure. Indomethacin promotes the establishment of a good filtration bleb that yields on a lasting ocular hypotonia, thus improving the results.

[Maculopathy in typical retinitis pigmentosa apropos of 33 cases]. / La maculopathie dans la rétinopathie pigmentaire typique. A propos de 33 cas.

The authors studied 33 maculopathies in 54 patients affected by typic retinitis pigmentosa: atrophic macular degeneration 31 cases (49%); cystoïd macular oedema: 1 case (3%) and macular retraction syndrome: 1 case (3%). These results are confronted with those of the literature. Two therapeutical trials based on pathogenical hypothesis were conducted. The patient with cystoïd macular oedema was treated by Hyperbar oxygenotherapy, basing one of selves on the theory ischemia. Six other patients with atrophic foveolopathies were treated by the cyclophosphamide, according to the autoimmune theory. In the first trial, the result was positive. In the second one, the results did not permit any available conclusion.