Long-term XXXX use to prevent recurrent ocular herpes simplex virus infection.

@entity1033 @entity1 @entity5394 @entity1034
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of more than 12 months of oral @entity1033 therapy in reducing recurrences of @entity1034 . METHODS: We retrospectively compared @entity1034 recurrence in 2 groups of @entity1 . In group 1, @entity1 used oral @entity1033 for at least 12 months and then discontinued the treatment. In group 2, @entity1 received the treatment for at least 18 months. We compared recurrences when both groups were using @entity1033 (period 1) and when only group 2 was receiving the drug ( @entity5394 ). Statistical analysis was performed with the t test, chi2 test, and Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Group 1 had 18 @entity1 and a mean +/- SD follow-up of 45.2 +/- 22.2 months. Group 2 had 22 @entity1 and a mean +/- SD follow-up of 42.4 +/- 30.2 months. Six @entity1 (33%) in group 1 and 4 @entity1 (18%) in group 2 had recurrence in period 1 (P =.3). In @entity5394 , 14 @entity1 (78%) in group 1 and 8 @entity1 (36%) in group 2 had recurrence (P =.01). Mean +/- SD recurrence-free survival in @entity5394 was 15.3 +/- 5.5 months in group 1 and 37.3 +/- 6.3 months in group 2 (P =.001). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term oral @entity1033 use seems to remain effective in decreasing the number of @entity1034 recurrences beyond 12 months.
