Acanthamoeba Keratitis: 8 Cases Treated With Phmb 0.08% In Monotherapy (Polihexanide)

To report topical PHMB (polihexanide) 0.08% (0.8 mg/ml) in monotherapy for Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) treatment

The study was done at Hospital La Fe, Valencia (Spain)

We report 8 cases with AK. Principal inclusion criteria were 12 years of age or older, clinical findings consistent with AK and positive Acanthamoeba PCR. During 6 months in every case, we treated all the patients with this regimen: 1 drop every hour (day 1 to 5), 1 drop every 2 hours (day 6 to 12), 1 drop every 3 hours (day 13 to 20), 1 drop every 4 hours (day 21 to resolution). All  cases were treated 1 drop a day after resolution completing 6 months from the start of the treatment. The main outcome measure was clinical findings within 6 months, and secondary outcomes including best corrected visual acuity. Safety outcomes included adverse event rates

8 cases of AK received PHMB 0.08% at the described regimen. The medical cure rate within 6 months was 86.6% with complete resolution in 6 cases. Secondary outcomes were median best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20. 2 of 8 patients required therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. No drug-related adverse events occurred

PHMB 0.08% monotherapy may be effective for Acanthamoeba keratitis with medical cure rates of more than 85%