Pharmacologic modulation of acute uveitis with aminonicotinamide.

The hexose monophosphate shunt inhibitor 6-aminonicotinamide was observed to have an anti-inflammatory effect in the treatment of experimental uveitis. The electrons required for the reduction of molecular oxygen to superoxide radicals are generated by the pentose phosphate pathway in acute inflammatory cells. The inhibition of superoxide production is discussed as one of the potential antiphlogistic mechanisms.