Efficacy of Nimodipine Combined with Latanoprost in Treating Open-Angle Glaucoma and Its Influence on Ocular Hemodynamics and Visual Field Defects.

Background: Open-angle glaucoma is a common ophthalmic disease, which has a great impact on the vision of middle-aged and elderly people. Medication plays an important role in the treatment of glaucoma, so finding effective drug treatment is of great significance to improve the quality of life of glaucoma patients. Objective: To explore the curative effect of nimodipine combined with latanoprost in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and its effect on ocular hemodynamics and visual field defects. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 87 patients with open-angle glaucoma who came to the Shanxi Province Fenyang Hospital and The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Datong University for treatment from January 2019 to January 2021. According to different treatment plans, the patients were divided into two groups: an observation group (n = 46) treated with nimodipine combined with latanoprost, and a control group (n = 41) treated by latanoprost monotherapy. Treatment efficacy, hemodynamics, visual field defects, 24-hour peak intraocular pressure, binocular optic disc parameters, adverse reactions and quality of life were recorded and compared between two groups of patients. Results: The overall therapeutic effect of the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group. After treatment, ocular hemodynamics, visual field defects, 24-hour peak intraocular pressure, binocular optic disc parameters and life quality of both groups were obviously improved compared to those before treatment, with more significant improvements in the observation group. In addition, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Conclusion: Nimodipine combined with latanoprost eye drops is effective in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma, which could effectively improve the ocular hemodynamics and visual field defects of patients with fewer adverse reactions and higher safety. Therefore, it can be further promoted and used in clinical practice.

Nitric oxide-donating compounds for IOP lowering in glaucoma. / Donadores de óxido nítrico como hipotensores en glaucoma.

INTRODUCTION: An elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the main risk factor for progression of glaucoma upon which we can efficiently act. Pharmacological strategies to reduce IOP are directed towards the reduction of aqueous humour (AH) production and/or the increase in AH drainage through the uveoscleral pathway. However, there are no drugs currently available as first-line treatment to increase AH outflow primarily via the conventional route. Ocular nitric oxide (NO) production takes place in AH outflow pathways and in the ciliary muscle, modulating the cellular response to elevated IOP. METHODS: This review describes the mechanism of action of endogenous NO and NO-donating compounds that are under research. It includes information regarding pre-clinical and clinical studies previously conducted with these compounds, discussing their role and therapeutic potential in the pharmacological treatment of ocular hypertension in glaucoma. RESULTS: The topical ocular administration of NO-donating compounds significantly lowered IOP and maintained it in animal models of glaucoma and subjects with ocular hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of action of these compounds is novel and scientific evidence that shows promising results. However, there is a need for more comprehensive studies to assess long-term safety and tolerability in order to properly evaluate their use in chronic therapies.

A pilot comparative study of topical latanoprost and tacrolimus in combination with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy and microneedling for the treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo.

Prostaglandins and their analogues are beneficial as topical agents in vitiligo treatment, yet neither of the previous study addressed their comparative efficiency with conventional topical agents used in vitiligo treatment. In this pilot (24 patients) left-right comparative study we addressed efficiency of prostaglandin F2α analogue latanoprost versus tacrolimus when combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B and microneedling in repigmentation of nonsegmental vitiligo lesions. Our results confirm potency of prostaglandins, in particular, that of latanoprost, in inducing repigmentation, with the efficiency being at least comparable to that of tacrolimus, while contribution of microneedling remains unclear. In summary, results of our study provide further evidences for justified use of prostaglandins, in particular, latanoprost, in vitiligo treatment. In turn, this warrants future studies on the topic aiming to conclusively introduce prostaglandin-based formulations as conventional agents for vitiligo management.

Promising alternative clinical uses of prostaglandin F2α analogs: beyond the eyelashes.

Prostaglandin F2α analogs, commonly prescribed for glaucoma treatment, have been shown to induce side effects such as cutaneous hypertrichosis and hyperpigmentation. Therefore, these medications have theoretic applications in the treatment of alopecia and disorders of hypopigmentation. We reviewed the literature to find original studies assessing the use of prostaglandin F2α analogs in these settings. Studies and reports were analyzed in regards to androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, vitiligo, and hypopigmented scarring. Based on the results of these studies, and consideration of pathophysiologic mechanism, the most promising applications for prostaglandin F2α analogs include androgenic alopecia, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and alopecia areata concurrently treated with corticosteroids.

Dark circles: etiology and management options.

Given their multifactorial nature and the fact that individual patients may have more than a single underlying cause, cosmetic practitioners should be well versed in a number of potential treatment options encompassing all facets of under-eye dark circles. New therapeutic options are also forthcoming. Longer-lasting HA fillers, wavelength tunable laser devices, and topicals speeding up healing and enhancing results after fractionated laser therapy will all serve to make the future of dark circle treatment unabatedly bright.

The long-term outcomes of four alternative treatment strategies for primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term effects and costs of four treatment strategies for primary open-angle glaucoma compared to usual care. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analyses with a lifelong horizon were made from a societal perspective. Data were generated with a patient-level model based on discrete event simulation. The model structure and parameter estimates were based on literature, particularly clinical studies on the natural course of glaucoma and the effect of treatment. We simulated heterogeneous cohorts of 3000 patients and explored the impact of uncertainty with sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of initial treatment with a prostaglandin analogue compared with a ß-blocker was €12.931 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. A low initial target pressure (15 mmHg) resulted in 0.115 QALYs gained and €1550 saved compared to a gradual decrease from 21 to 15 mmHg upon progression. Visual field (VF) measurements every 6 rather than 12 months lead to health gains at increased costs (ICER €173,486 per QALY gained), whereas measurements every 24 months lead to health losses at reduced costs (ICER €21,516 per QALY lost). All treatment strategies were dominant over 'withholding treatment'. CONCLUSIONS: From a cost-effectiveness point of view, it seems advantageous to aim for a low intraocular pressure in all glaucoma patients. The feasibility of this strategy should therefore be investigated. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness outcomes of initiating monotherapy with a prostaglandin analogue and reducing the frequency of VF testing may be acceptable.

Immunohistochemical expression of HLA-DR in the conjunctiva of patients under topical prostaglandin analogs treatment.

PURPOSE: Subclinical inflammation may be observed in patients using topical antiglaucomatous drugs. The objective of this study was to investigate inflammation in conjunctiva of glaucoma patients using prostaglandin analogs, by the detection of an immunogenetic marker (HLA-DR) and compare the effect of 3 different drugs: latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost in the induction of this inflammation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were evaluated without and with prostaglandin analogs topical therapy. Imprints of conjunctival cells were obtained, fixed on glass slides, and prepared for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Before the use of prostaglandin analogs, 4 of the 33 patients evaluated presented expression of HLA-DR in the conjunctiva (mild). After 1 month on prostaglandin analog treatment, all but 1 patient presented HLA-DR staining. HLA-DR expression of these 32 patients was scored as mild (19 patients), medium (11 patients), or intense (2 patients). The differences were statistically significant both when the presence and the increased expression of HLA-DR were considered (P<0.001). When the 3 different groups were analyzed (latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost) no statistically significant difference was found (P=0.27). CONCLUSIONS: The use of prostaglandin analogs eye drops provokes a subclinical inflammatory reaction, observed by HLA-DR expression, even after a short period of treatment, independently of the class of the prostaglandin analogs used.

Daytime diurnal curve comparison between the fixed combinations of latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% and dorzolamide 2%/timolol maleate 0.5%.

PURPOSE: The diurnal efficacy and safety of the fixed combinations of latanoprost/timolol given once daily vs dorzolamide/timolol given twice daily in primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients. DESIGN: A double-masked, two-centre, crossover comparison. RESULTS: In 33 patients, the mean diurnal IOP (0800-2000, measured every 2 h) for latanoprost/timolol fixed combination was 17.3+/-2.2 mmHg and for dorzolamide/timolol, the fixed combination was 17.0+/-2.0 mmHg (P = 0.36). Additionally, there was no statistical difference for individual time points following a Bonferroni correction. A bitter taste was found more frequently with the dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination (n = 6) than the latanoprost/timolol fixed combination (n = 0) (P = 0.040), while the latanoprost/timolol fixed combination demonstrated more conjunctival hyperaemia (n = 9) than the dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination (n = 2) (P = 0.045). One patient was discontinued early from the dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination due to elevated IOP. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the daytime diurnal IOP is not statistically different between the dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination and latanoprost/timolol fixed combination in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.

Ciliochoroidal effusion induced by topical latanoprost in a patient with sturge-weber syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To report drug-induced ciliochoroidal effusion in a patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome. CASE: A 17-year-old man presented with unilateral glaucoma associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome. OBSERVATIONS: His corrected visual acuity was RE 20/20 and LE 40/60. Intraocular pressure readings by Goldmann applanation tonometry were RE 32 mm Hg and LE 12 mm Hg. Fundus examination showed marked glaucomatous disc cupping in his right eye and normal finding in his left. The patient had a port-wine stain on his right upper eyelid ipsilateral to the glaucomatous eye. Antiglaucomatous medications were begun, including topical latanoprost, with a diagnosis of juvenile onset glaucoma associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a 360 degrees circumference ciliochoroidal effusion. Forty days after starting medication, latanoprost treatment was discontinued. Ten days later, ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a total disappearance of the ciliochoroidal effusion. CONCLUSION: Interaction of the enhanced uveoscleral outflow with latanoprost in conjunction with elevated episcleral venous pressure may have caused the congestion of the aqueous humor in the supraciliary-choroidal space, resulting in the ciliochoroidal effusion.

Latanoprost, a prostaglandin analog, for glaucoma therapy. Efficacy and safety after 1 year of treatment in 198 patients. Latanoprost Study Groups.

PURPOSE: To determine efficacy and safety of latanoprost, a prostaglandin analog for glaucoma, during 1 year of treatment. METHODS: After baseline measurements, 0.005% latanoprost was topically applied once daily for 12 months in patients from Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and the United States who had elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Diagnoses included ocular hypertension, chronic open-angle glaucoma, exfoliation syndrome, and pigment dispersion syndrome. Treatment was masked for the first 6 months and open-label during the second 6 months. RESULTS: Of the 272 patients initially enrolled, withdrawals were due to inadequate IOP control (1%), increased iris pigmentation (5%), other ocular problems (3%), systemic medical problems (3%), and nonmedical reasons (14%). Latanoprost significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced diumal IOP from 25.3 +/- 3.0 mmHg (mean +/- standard deviation) at baseline to 17.4 +/- 2.7 mmHg (32% reduction) at 12 months in the 198 patients who completed 1 year of treatment. The IOP reduction was maintained at a consistent level throughout the 12 months without evidence of drift, and was not affected by sex, age, race, or eye color. Overall, latanoprost caused a possible or definite increase in iris pigmentation in 12% of the 272 patients, all of whom had multicolored irides at baseline. One half of these patients with increased pigmentation withdrew before completing 1 year of therapy. Visual field, optic disc cupping, visual acuity, refractive error, conjunctival hyperemia, aqueous flare, anterior chamber cellular response, lens examination, blood pressure, heart rate, blood tests, and urinalysis were not appreciably altered. CONCLUSION: Latanoprost safely and effectively reduces IOP for 1 year in patients of diverse nationalities, providing further evidence for its usefulness in chronic glaucoma therapy.