Toxicity and clearance of a combination of liposome-encapsulated ganciclovir and trifluridine.

New Zealand albino rabbits were given intravitreal injections of liposome-encapsulated ganciclovir and trifluridine. Preoperatively and postoperatively, the eyes were evaluated by indirect ophthalmoscopy at different time intervals up to 14 days after injection. At intervals up to 14 days postinjection, the animals were sacrificed, the eyes enucleated, vitreous antiviral levels determined in one group of eyes, and histopathological examination conducted in the other group. The results of this study demonstrated prolonged intravitreal drug levels above the mean inhibitory dose for many strains of virus belonging to the herpes simplex virus family. No evidence of gross retinal toxicity was found by clinical or light microscopic examination of the treated eyes.