Toxic effects of 10
antiviral substances [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-
guanine (ACV), E-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU),
5-(2-chloroethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (CEDU), 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)
guanine (
DHPG), (S)-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)
adenine (
HPMPA), (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)
cytosine (
HPMPC), 5'-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU),
phosphonoformic acid (PFA), 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)
adenine (PMEA) and
5-trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (TFT)] on uninfected human corneal cells were evaluated in two experimental models (undisturbed adherence and growth, and
wound closure) under continuous drug exposure. The
antiviral drugs were ranked in order of toxicity in each of the tests. The influence on toxicity of different experimental parameters such as initial cell density, length of exposure and
trauma, was evaluated. There was significant interaction between toxicity and length of exposure. In undisturbed cultures
antiviral compounds ranked as follows: PMEA </=
DHPG </= ACV </= CEDU < PFA </= IDU </= BVDU <<
HPMPC < TFT <
HPMPA. Wounding or migration increased the apparent toxicity of the
antiviral substances;
trauma did not have an additional effect. In conditions where corneal epithelium is poorly populated and ulcerated, wound healing can be delayed by
antiviral medication.