Abstract
Purpose: :
Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel (0.15%) was compared to trifluridine 0.1% ophthalmic solution for the treatment of herpetic keratitis in the New Zealand white rabbit.
Methods: :
An initial masked, 14-day toxicity trial in non-infected rabbits showed that neither the ganciclovir gel, the placebo gel, or trifluridine drops produced corneal toxicity when administered five times per day. Another group of rabbits was infected with the McKrae strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1. Three days after infection, keratitis was graded, and rabbits were randomized to treatment with either ganciclovir gel, trifluridine drops, or placebo gel five times per day. Severity of the keratitis was graded daily in a masked manner.
Results: :
Neither the trifluridine, ganciclovir gel nor the placebo gel were toxic to the rabbit cornea when applied five times a day for 14 days to non-infected eyes. In rabbits infected with McKrae HSV-1, there was no difference in the effect of the ganciclovir gel and the trifluridine drops for treating an established keratitis.
Conclusions: :
Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel is as effective in treating established HSV-1 herpetic keratitis in the rabbit as trifluridine.
Keywords: antiviral drugs • herpes simplex virus • keratitis