Clinical evaluation of adenine arabinoside and trifluorothymidine in the treatment of corneal ulcers caused by herpes simplex virus.

One hundred two unselected patients with ulceration of the cornea due to herpes simples virus were treated with either adenine arabinoside or trifluorothymide; the trial was double-blind, stratified, and radomized. The two drugs were given topically five times per day, and the rate of healing was observed and recorded. The series included 87 patients with dendritic ulcers and 15 with amoeboid ulcers. Dendritic ulcers of the cornea can be accurately measured, and the healing process can be easily followed. In this situation no statistically significant difference between the efficacy of adenine arabinoside and that of trifluorothymidine was demonstrated. Amoeboid ulcers are more difficult to evaluate than dendritic ulcers, and their responses to treatment vary considerably; however, data from this small group of patients suggest that trifluorothymodine may be more effective than adenine arabinoside for the treatment of amoeboid ulcers.