Resolution of Acanthamoeba Keratitis with Adjunctive Use of Oral Miltefosine

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2021 Feb 17;29(2):278-281. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2019.1695853. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a series of cases demonstrating the resolution of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) with adjunctive use of oral miltefosine.Methods: Retrospective case series.Results: The first case was a 27-year-old female who presented with severe pain and photophobia. The diagnosis of AK was made with confocal microscopy, which revealed a significant burden of stromal cysts. After approximately 2 weeks of adjunctive oral miltefosine therapy, there was a severe inflammatory response within the cornea followed by quick resolution of the AK. The second case was a 31-year-old male in whom the diagnosis of AK was confirmed by culture and polymerase chain reaction. Adjunctive oral miltefosine was started 3 months after presentation, leading to a quick resolution.Conclusions: Oral miltefosine may have cysticidal properties and should be considered as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of AK, particularly in cases with a significant burden of cysts or in cases recalcitrant to other treatments.

Keywords: Acanthamoeba keratitis; confocal microscopy; contact lens use; infectious keratitis; miltefosine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / genetics
  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / diagnosis
  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / drug therapy*
  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / parasitology
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cornea / parasitology
  • Cornea / pathology*
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Phosphorylcholine / administration & dosage
  • Phosphorylcholine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Slit Lamp Microscopy
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Phosphorylcholine
  • miltefosine