lin et al vol 25 j med chem pp 971 973 1985 and u s pat no 5 077 280 sommadossi et al derivatives of 5 benzyl barbiturate can also be used to inhibit uridine phosphorylase such compounds as are described in u s pat no 5 141 943 naguib et al which is incorporated herein by reference include 5 benzyloxybenzyl barbiturate 5 benzyloxybenzyl 1 1 hydroxy 2 ethoxy methyl barbiturate 5 benzyloxybenzylacetyl 1 1 hydroxy 2 ethoxy methyl barbiturate 5 benzyloxybenzyl 1 1 3 dihydroxy 2 propoxy methyl barbiturate 5 benzyloxybenzyl 1 1 hydroxy 3 amino 2 propoxy methyl barbiturate 5 benzyloxybenzyl 1 2 3 carboxypropionyloxy ethoxy methyl barbiturate 5 benzyl 1 1 hydroxy 2 ethoxy methyl barbiturate 5 methoxybenzylacetyl barbiturate 5 benzyl 1 1 3 dihydroxy 2 propoxy methyl barbiturate 5 benzyl 1 1 hydroxy 3 amino 2 propoxy methyl barbiturate and 5 benzyl 1 2 3 carboxypropionyloxy ethoxy methyl barbiturate acyclouridines used as uridine phosphorylase inhibiting compounds can be administered according to the invention at 5 to 200 mg kg day preferred dosages for 5 benzyl barbiturate compounds administered according to the invention are in the range of 5 to 200 mg kg day in addition the benefits of exogenous uridine can be realized by administering certain prodrugs suitable compounds include prodrugs of uridine and cytidine e g triphenyluridine and triphenylcytidine prodrugs of uridine 5 39 monophosphate ump and cytidine 5 39 monophosphate cmp e g mono and di alkyl esters acyloxyalkyl esters alkoxycarbonylmethyl esters substituted ethyl and propyl esters amidomethyl esters benzyl esters phenyl esters phosphonamidates cyclophosphate esters.