Effects of topical and subconjunctival cidofovir (HPMPC) in an animal model

To characterize the anterior segment effects of cidofovir, using an animal model.

Cidofovir drops, at concentrations of 0.04%, 0.4% and 4%, were instilled in eyes of guinea pigs once daily for 10 days. Fellow eyes (controls) received normal saline. The corneal epithelium was debrided at day one and then at every other day for 10 days. Subconjunctival injections of 20 microl of 4% cidofovir were given in another group of animals. A micromanometer was used to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP). Eyes were studied histopathologically at the conclusion of the study.

There was no significant drop in IOP after 10 days, using the 0.04% concentration of cidofovir drops. Histology revealed mild corneal edema and inflammatory infiltrate; iris, ciliary body and retina were normal. There was a statistically significant drop in IOP in the eyes treated with 0.4% and 4.0% cidofovir eye drops at 10 days (p = 0.005 and p < 0.0001, respectively) compared to baseline. Morphological changes included moderate to severe corneal edema, vascularization and inflammatory infiltration. The iris and ciliary body revealed mild inflammatory changes only at the 4% cidofovir dose. No changes were seen in the retina with any doses. No change in IOP was observed following subconjunctival injections of 4% cidofovir, and histologically, only localized inflammatory changes in the conjunctiva were observed.

The IOP-decreasing effect of cidofovir occurs at doses below those causing intraocular inflammation and is likely due to an effect on the anterior segment. The anterior segment effects of cidofovir in guinea pigs were similar to those in humans. Thus, the guinea pig appears to be a good animal model for studying the effects of cidofovir on the anterior segment structures.