Effects of Subconjunctivally Injected Antineoplastic Agents on Three Models of Corneal Inflammation

Three models of corneal inflammation--acute toxic keratitis, phlyctenular keratitis and corneal graft rejection--were induced in rabbits and treated with subconjunctival injections of antineoplastic agents (methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, 5-fluorouracil and 6-mercaptopurine) and Solu-Medrol (methylprednisolone sodium succinate). The inflammations responded to the drugs to various degrees when compared with the response in control animals treated with saline. Cytosine arabinoside effected a slight decrease in the clinical features of acute toxic keratitis, methotrexate was superior in decreasing inflammation and neovascularization in phlyctenular keratitis, and Solu-Medrol appeared to be the most useful in the treatment of graft rejection. When injected repeatedly, 5-fluorouracil tended to have significant toxicity in the presence of inflammation.