Effects of topical unoprostone and latanoprost on acute and recurrent herpetic keratitis in the rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the topical ocular hypotensive drug, isopropyl unoprostone, a docosanoid molecule with very weak prostaglandin activity, on herpes keratitis in the rabbit eye.


METHODS
For acute disease, rabbit corneas inoculated with the corticosteroid-sensitive F(MP)E strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 were treated with various combinations of 0.12% isopropyl unoprostone, latanoprost, trifluridine, benzalkonium chloride 0.02%, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, ketorolac tromethamine, or saline solution beginning 1 day after infection. Severity of keratitis was evaluated in a masked manner. For recurrent disease, rabbit corneas infected with McKrae strain herpes simplex virus type 1 were treated with unoprostone or saline solution on postinfection days 25 to 42, and the presence or absence of lesions was recorded.


RESULTS
Eyes treated with unoprostone showed significantly less severe disease than saline-treated or latanoprost-treated eyes during acute infection. Unoprostone-treated and saline-treated eyes showed no significant difference in the frequency of recurrent lesions. Eyes treated with latanoprost and/or dexamethasone, separately or in combination, showed increased severity of acute herpes simplex virus keratitis, whereas benzalkonium chloride 0.02%--treated eyes showed no significant difference, compared with saline treatment. Trifluridine resulted in rapid healing.


CONCLUSIONS
Unoprostone did not increase the severity or recurrence rate of herpes simplex virus keratitis. Unoprostone requires twice-a-day administration, compared with once-a-day for latanoprost, and unoprostone lowers intraocular pressure less than latanoprost. Nevertheless, unoprostone's superior safety profile may make its use advantageous. Benzalkonium chloride alone did not make the keratitis worse.
Kaufman
H E
HE
Louisiana State University Eye Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Varnell
E D
ED
Toshida
H
H
Kanai
A
A
Thompson
H W
HW
Bazan
N G
NG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; C004180:dexamethasone 21-phosphate; C072630:isopropyl unoprostone; D000077338:Latanoprost; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015237:Dinoprost