CONVALESCENT BLOOD FOR TREATMENT OF HERPES ZOSTER OPHTHALMICUS

Abstract

Five years ago I reported¹the results obtained by using convalescent blood in the treatment of 10 patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. The results were compared with those obtained in a control series of 19 patients not treated by any specific remedy. In both series the eyes were definitely infected with the virus of herpes zoster. Ten other patients were dealt with separately because their eyes never showed any evidence of keratitis or uveitis. The results obtained from this new treatment were encouraging. Two patients with definite but early ocular involvement were promptly and dramatically cured ; 7 others whose eyes were infected, as a general rule for a longer period before treatment was instituted, showed only gradual improvement, but there was no permanent impairment of vision. Only 1 person (10 per cent) lost useful vision. The previously mentioned control series of 19 patients showed the following results: The vision