Jornal de Oftalmologia Clínica e Experimental
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Vitamin D Levels in Recurrent Herpetic Keratitis: Does Vitamin D Supplementation Prevent Recurrence?

Sarfaraz Khan, Youssr Louati, Philippe Gottrau

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between herpes virus reactivation and serum vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent herpetic keratitis.

Methods: This study included 33 eyes of 33 patients with recurrent (more than 2 episodes) herpetic keratitis. The control group was formed of 31 age and gender-matched healthy volunteers who have had no systemic disease and, no herpetic eye diseases previously. Serum vitamin D levels were investigated in the patients and control group and the two groups were compared. Oral vitamin D treatment was given to the patients with low vitamin D according to the guideline of the International Endocrinology Association (IEA). Serum vitamin D levels were measured at the 6-month and compared with the initial serum vitamin D levels. Patients were followed for recurrence of herpetic keratitis.

Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in respect of mean age and gender (p=0.83, 0.61 respectively). The mean serum vitamin D level was 10.71 ± 3.35 ng/ml in the study group and 22.94 ± 8.63 ng/ml in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). Serum vitamin D levels at the 6-month were 29.13 ± 13.26 ng/ml in the study group. The difference between initial and 6-month serum vitamin D levels in the patients group was statistically significant (p=0.008). Only one patient who could not benefit from oral Vitamin D supplementation had two recurrences as endothelial keratitis in this period.

Conclusion: Low vitamin D levels may be a reason for herpetic keratitis recurrence. Vitamin D supplementation may be a preventive factor for recurrence of herpetic keratitis.