Ac2IDU, BVDU, and thymine arabinoside therapy in experimental herpes keratitis

The therapeutic efficacy of three new antiviral agents-5-iodo-3',5'-diacetyl-2'-deoxyuridine (diacetylidoxuridine, 1% Ac2IDU), E-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (0.25% BVDU), and 3% thymine arabinoside-is compared with available antivirals in an experimental model of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratitis in New Zealand white rabbits. Compared with placebo, Ac2IDU significantly reduced ulcerative keratitis on days 4 through 8 after inoculation with virus and iritis on day 8 after inoculation. Compared with placebo, thymine arabinoside reduced ulcerative keratitis but not significantly. Thymine arabinoside caused significant iritis in all eyes. The epithelial disease in BVDU-treated eyes was significantly less than that in placebo-treated eyes on days 5 through 8 after inoculation. The results indicate that 1% Ac2IDU and 0.25% BVDU were effective in our ocular model of HSV-1 keratitis, whereas thymine arabinoside was not.