Purpose: To assess efficacy of corneal photochemotherapy (CXL) in the management of corneal ulcers in dogs in comparison with conventional topical therapy (CTT). Material / methods: 21 dogs with septic deep corneal ulcer were enrolled in this randomized controlled clinical trial. The corneal lesion had to be positive for the presence of bacteria. Twelve patients underwent CXL (20 minutes of corneal soaking with hypotonic riboflavin solution and 30 mW/cm2 for 3 minutes with a 365-nm UV-A irradiation device VETUVIR, Vision Engineering Italy) while 9 patients received CTT( antimicrobial, anti-collagenase, and NSAID). For all patients a complete ophthalmological examination including slit lamp biomicroscopy was performed at enrolment and at 1-day, 3-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28- and 35 days after enrolment or until complete healing, defined as completely negative fluorescein staining repaired corneal epithelium. Results: All patients, except one receiving CTT, completed the follow-up. All CXL treated patients achieved complete resolution of the corneal ulcer in 20 ± 8 days with no adverse effects. T CTT was highly ineffective in treating septic corneal ulcer, with only 1 case healed. Discussion: The preliminary clinical outcomes show that CXL using VETUVIR is highly safe and effective as monotherapy in treating canine deep corneal ulcers. CTT may be ineffective for several reasons, including increasing antimicrobial drug resistance and low adherence to medication. The clinical trial is ongoing to confirm CXL as an antibiotic sparing treatment option for septic corneal ulcers in dogs. Results obtained with VETUVIR are comparable with those described in the literature. Support / interest disclosure: M Lombardo and G Lombardo are consultants for Vision Engineering Italy. All remaining authors are not consultants or have received any honorarium from Vision Engineering Italy or other pharmaceutical companies in the veterinary ophthalmology area
Corneal Photochemotherapy (CXL) Using Vetuvir® for the Treatment of Deep Septic Corneal Ulcers in Dogs
Marchegiani, Andrea;Gialletti, Rodolfo;Cassarani, Maria Paola;Arcelli, Rolando;Cerquetella, Matteo;Spaterna, Andrea;
2019-01-01
Abstract
Purpose: To assess efficacy of corneal photochemotherapy (CXL) in the management of corneal ulcers in dogs in comparison with conventional topical therapy (CTT). Material / methods: 21 dogs with septic deep corneal ulcer were enrolled in this randomized controlled clinical trial. The corneal lesion had to be positive for the presence of bacteria. Twelve patients underwent CXL (20 minutes of corneal soaking with hypotonic riboflavin solution and 30 mW/cm2 for 3 minutes with a 365-nm UV-A irradiation device VETUVIR, Vision Engineering Italy) while 9 patients received CTT( antimicrobial, anti-collagenase, and NSAID). For all patients a complete ophthalmological examination including slit lamp biomicroscopy was performed at enrolment and at 1-day, 3-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28- and 35 days after enrolment or until complete healing, defined as completely negative fluorescein staining repaired corneal epithelium. Results: All patients, except one receiving CTT, completed the follow-up. All CXL treated patients achieved complete resolution of the corneal ulcer in 20 ± 8 days with no adverse effects. T CTT was highly ineffective in treating septic corneal ulcer, with only 1 case healed. Discussion: The preliminary clinical outcomes show that CXL using VETUVIR is highly safe and effective as monotherapy in treating canine deep corneal ulcers. CTT may be ineffective for several reasons, including increasing antimicrobial drug resistance and low adherence to medication. The clinical trial is ongoing to confirm CXL as an antibiotic sparing treatment option for septic corneal ulcers in dogs. Results obtained with VETUVIR are comparable with those described in the literature. Support / interest disclosure: M Lombardo and G Lombardo are consultants for Vision Engineering Italy. All remaining authors are not consultants or have received any honorarium from Vision Engineering Italy or other pharmaceutical companies in the veterinary ophthalmology areaI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
