acyclovir and Amebiasis

Keratitis occurring in renal transplant patients are often severe, with difficult management. We describe the case of a renal transplant patient, 44 year-old man, with history of recurrent herpetic keratitis, which developed an impending corneal perforation. Conjunctival smear showed the presence of amoebic cysts. Anti-amoebic treatment was undertaken in addition with oral aciclovir, and a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was performed. An ulceration of the graft occurred within five months. Ocular samples showed the presence of Candida albicans. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy, he required a second therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty for graft perforation. One month later, we noted a recurrence of the ulcer with corneal thinning which evolved to perforation.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Amebiasis; Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candida albicans; Conjunctiva; Corneal Transplantation; Humans; Keratitis, Herpetic; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Recurrence; Retinal Perforations