IDU and Cytosine Arabinoside in Experimental Herpetic Keratitis

Abstract

Recently 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IDU) has been shown to be effective in experimental herpetic keratitis of rabbits as well as in herpes simplex keratitis in man.^1,2 Since the discovery of the therapeutic antiviral activity of this compound, a search for additional compounds has been made. The first success came with the finding that a series of substituted 5-haloginated cytidines also possessed therapeutic antiviral activity in experimental keratitis.³ These compounds, although possessing superior solubility, and perhaps stability, were as active as the original compound IDU, being metabolized to this compound by the cells and depending for antiviral activity on the ability of the cell to convert and de-aminate the compound. The mechanism of the action of these agents, therefore, was identical to that of IDU and the other 5-haloginated uridines. Recently, Underwood reported that cytosine arabinoside is also active in the treatment of experimental herpes simplex keratitis.⁴ This compound differs