The use of nerve growth factor in herpetic keratitis: a case report

BACKGROUND We evaluate the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) eye drops to treat a herpetic corneal ulcer resistant to systemic and local acyclovir treatment in an HIV-positive patient. CASE PRESENTATION A 68 year old HIV-positive male presented with a herpetic corneal ulcer which was treated unsuccessfully with acyclovir. Acyclovir sensitivity of herpes simplex virus was tested with a dye uptake assay and we found that the herpes simplex virus isolated was resistant to acyclovir. We started eye drop therapy with NGF and the corneal herpetic ulcer healed in 23 treatment days. CONCLUSION The case presented here is the first described in the literature in which a herpetic corneal ulcer was successfully treated with NGF. We recommend that trials of NGF therapy in herpetic keratitis should be carried out on a larger number of acyclovir resistant cases.