Bilateral herpes simplex keratitis in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease

Abstract

Takahiko Hayashi1, Misaki Ishioka2, Norihiko Ito1, Yoko Kato1, Hisashi Nakagawa3, Hiroshi Hatano4, Nobuhisa Mizuki11Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; 2Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan; 3Tokushima Eye Clinic, Higashimurayama-shi, Tokyo, Japan; 4Lumine Hatano Eye Clinic, Fujisawa, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa, JapanPurpose: To describe a case of bilateral herpes simplex keratitis accompanying chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Design: Observational case report.Case report: An 11-year-old boy with myelocytic leukemia underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. He developed symptoms of the skin, eyes, and mouth, and lip biopsy indicated chronic GVHD. Persistent keratitis with corneal filaments and neovascularization was noted in both eyes. Sodium hyaluronate, autoserum, and 0.1% fluorometholone eyedrops were instilled for approximately 2 years to treat this keratitis, and there were no other ocular changes. Bilateral herpes simplex keratitis developed with geographic ulcers after topical betamethasone therapy, but responded to acyclovir ointment.Conclusions: Herpes keratitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bilateral keratitis in patients with reduced immunocompetence. During the course of chronic GVHD, corneal herpes may occur, so ocular treatment with topical corticosteroids should be managed by an ophthalmologist to monitor sight-threatening conditions such as corneal herpes.Keywords: chronic graft-versus-host disease, bone marrow transplant, corneal herpes, bilateral herpes simplex keratitis, dry eyes