[Trifluorothymidine therapy of corticoid-treated herpetic keratitis: experimental study in the rabbit]

The combination therapy of corticosteroids and antiviral agent is often necessary in the treatment of different forms of ocular herpes. The association of superficial ulceration with severe stromal inflammation indicates the possible use of ths therapy. An experimental study was performed in rabbits to evaluate if Trifluorothymidine (TFT) used in combination with topical corticosteroids can heal herpetic superficial ulcerations. Biomicroscopic and histopathologic lesions were compared with those of herpetic control eyes, TFT treated eyes and corticosteroid treated eyes. TFT plus corticosteroid treated lesions showed a clinically favourable evolution comparable to that of TFT treated rabbits without corticosteroid. However anatomopathologic examination revealed stromal alterations with herpetic capsids in keratocytes.