title: Intravitreal use of foscarnet: retinotoxicity of repeated injections in the rabbit eye.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most frequent ocular opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. In selected cases intravitreal injections of foscarnet may be the sole therapeutic possibility. The retinal toxicity of the drug, however, has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Our present study in the rabbit eye concerns the retinal toxicity of 2, 4, and 6 intravitreal injections of 3.6 mg of foscarnet, using ophthalmoscopy, histology and electrophysiology to evaluate retinal damage. The results show that foscarnet may be employed intravitreally without substantial damage to the retina, but only in short courses of injections when no other therapeutic possibility may be utilized.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turrini
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tognon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Caro
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Secchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D017245:Foscarnet