Use of nucleoside analogues in the treatment of herpes simplex virus eye diseases.

The clinical value of five synthetic antiherpetic nucleosides is discussed: iododeoxyuridine (IDU), adenine-arabinoside (Ara-A), trifluorothymidine (TFT), acyclovir (ACV), and bromovinyldeoxyuridine (BVDU). Depending on the type of herpes simplex virus eye disease, either TFT or ACV are currently the drugs of choice. For BVDU, further controlled studies have to be awaited. For the special situation of superficial herpetic keratitis (dendritic keratitis), a combination therapy with either TFT or ACV plus interferon has proven to be significantly better than a monotherapy with only nucleosides.