Evidence map›Paper›PMID 11279774›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2001

Interventions for herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis.

K R Wilhelmus

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2001. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. [Eczema herpeticum: Pathogenesis and therapy].Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete · 2006
    Article
  5. [Eczema herpeticatum].Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete · 2004
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

K R WilhelmusDepartment of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, 6565 Fannin Street, NC-205, Suite NC-304, Houston, TX 77030, USA. kirkw@bcm.tmc.edu
Baylor College of Medicine · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany clinical trials have been performed on the acute treatment of dendritic epithelial keratitis. Surveys of antiviral pharmacology and of herpes simplex virus eye disease have evaluated different commercially available agents, but a systematic review of all comparative clinical studies has not previously been undertaken.

objectivesThe objective of this review is to compare the effects of various treatments for dendritic or geographic herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis. SEARCH STRATEGY: Sources searched for relevant studies were the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group specialized register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register - CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Index Medicus, Excerpta Medica Ophthalmology, reference lists of primary reports, review articles, and corneal textbooks and conference proceedings pertaining to ocular virology. SELECTION CRITERIA: This review includes comparative clinical trials that assessed oral or topical ophthalmic antiviral agents, or physical or chemical debridement in people with active epithelial keratitis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The reviewer extracted data and assessed trial quality. Interventions were compared by the proportions of participants healed at seven days and at fourteen days after trial enrollment. MAIN

resultsThis review includes data from 96 trials which randomised a total of 4991 participants. Compared to idoxuridine, the topical application of vidarabine, trifluridine, or acyclovir generally resulted in a significantly greater proportion of participants healing within one week of treatment. Among these three antiviral agents, no treatment emerged as significantly better for the therapy of dendritic epithelial keratitis. Insufficient placebo-controlled studies were available to assess debridement and other physical and physicochemical methods of treatment. Interferon monotherapy had a slight beneficial effect on dendritic epithelial keratitis, but not better than other antiviral agents, and was useful with debridement. REVIEWER'S

conclusionsCurrently available and investigational antiviral agents are effective and nearly equivalent, but the combination of an antiviral nucleoside and interferon seems to speed healing. Future trials of the acute treatment of herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis must aim to achieve adequate statistical power for assessing the primary outcome and should consider the effect of lesion size and other characteristics on treatment response.

Indexed as

Administration, OralAdministration, TopicalAntiviral AgentsDebridementHumansKeratitis, HerpeticRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAntiviral Agents

Identifiers

PMID11279774
OpenAlexW1562979910

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.