Ganciclovir delivery through an intravitreal microdialysis probe in rabbit.

The treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis has during the last years been done mainly with sustained release ganciclovir devices implanted in the vitreous. In the present study it is shown that ganciclovir can be administered into the rabbit vitreous by microdialysis. A concentration of about 10(-6) M, which is considered within the therapeutic range, is achieved in the vitreous after a microdialysis perfusion. The method offers possibility of variation in the drug delivery that is not possible with the ganciclovir implants.