Topical corticosteroids for acanthamoeba keratitis in adults
Official title: Parasitic Ulcer Treatment Trial
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11532327 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized trial tests whether adding a mild steroid drop after standard anti-amoebic therapy helps improve vision and inflammation in people with acanthamoeba keratitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $9,000 |
| NIH project number | 3UG1EY033284-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11532327 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with microbiologically confirmed acanthamoeba keratitis who still have ocular inflammation after 4 weeks of anti-amoebic therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose inflammation resolves with anti-amoebic therapy before enrollment or who do not respond to steroids may see little to no benefit and could experience side effects.
What this research studies
This study enrolls adults with confirmed acanthamoeba keratitis who have ongoing inflammation after 4 weeks of standard anti-amoebic treatment. After week four, participants are randomly assigned to receive either a corticosteroid eye drop or a placebo while continuing anti-amoebic therapy. The main goal is to see if vision, measured with best corrected visual acuity, improves by 6 to 7 months, along with other outcomes like time to inflammation resolution and time to perforation. The trial will include about 200 patients across multiple international centers, including the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and India.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could clarify whether corticosteroids improve vision and healing for acanthamoeba keratitis patients.
How similar studies have gone: This area has limited randomized evidence; results will contribute important data for guiding therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keenan, Jeremy David — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Keenan, Jeremy David
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.