[Mouse cytomegalovirus infection under cytosine arabinoside treatment]

The antiviral activity of cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C) against the mouse cytomegalovirus was investigated in animal experiments using various dosages. The substance did not exhibit any virostatic effect, but on the contrary fostered the viral infection. The virus concentration in the liver after administration of five dosages of 30 mg/kg of cytosine arabinoside was 35 times higher than that in untreated animals, and after five dosages of 45 mg/kg was 70 times higher. In addition the mortality rate for infected animals treated with cytosine arabinoside was significantly higher in relation to dosage. Cytosine arabinoside also acts as an immunosuppressor in humans. Adverse effects in cytomegalo-infection can therefore not be excluded. The use of cytosine arabinoside in therapy would thus appear to be highly questionable.