New superior-inferior visual field asymmetry indices for detecting POAG and their agreement with the glaucoma hemifield test.

PURPOSE: To describe and measure the discriminatory performance of three new superior-inferior asymmetry indices for detecting primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and to compare these with the glaucoma hemifield test (GHT). METHODS: In all, 412 control and 247 POAG eyes were selected from a visual field database of patients attending the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. Age-adjusted defect asymmetries were calculated for each of the 22 vertically mirrored test point pairs used in the GHT. The three new indices, hemifield mean difference (HMD) and hemifield standard deviation (HSD) of the asymmetry values along with the number of test pairs (NP) falling outside the 85% probability limits of the control population, were calculated. ROC curves of the indices and GHT were constructed. Agreement between the indices was explored with a proportional Venn diagram and 3 × 3 contingency tables. Cases of disagreement between the indices were reviewed. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curves were HMD=0.745 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.705-0.786), HSD=0.864 (95% CI 0.833-0.894), NP=0.863 (95% CI 0.832-0.893) and GHT=0.792 (95% CI 0.754-0.829). The Venn diagram and contingency tables highlighted the good agreement between HSD, NP and GHT. Agreement was 78% (HSD vs. GHT) and 82% (NP vs. GHT) in the control sample and 70% (HSD vs. GHT) and 71% (NP vs. GHT) in the POAG sample. Five cases are presented where disagreement existed between the indices. CONCLUSIONS: The new HSD and NP asymmetry indices perform better than GHT in differentiating between normal and POAG eyes in this data set. GHT can fail to detect significant asymmetry, detected by HSD and NP, when an early defect crosses sector boundaries.

Individualised patient care as an adjunct to standard care for promoting adherence to ocular hypotensive therapy: an exploratory randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of individualised patient care, as an adjunct to standard care, on adherence to ocular hypotensive therapy. METHODS: A two-arm, single-masked exploratory randomised controlled trial recruited patients newly prescribed ocular hypotensive therapy. The intervention involved an individual assessment of health-care needs and beliefs and a 1-year follow-up period according to need. The primary outcome was refill adherence, measured by collating prescription and dispensing data for 12 months. Secondary outcomes included self-reported adherence, glaucoma knowledge, beliefs about illness and medicines, quality of care, intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuation, and changes in clinical management assessed at 12 months. The strength of the intervention was measured following withdrawal by reviewing clinical outcomes for a further 12 months. RESULTS: In all, 127 patients were recruited (91% response rate). Intervention-arm patients collected significantly more prescriptions than control-arm patients. Self-report adherence was significantly better in the intervention-arm for patients who forgot drops and those who intentionally missed drops. The intervention group demonstrated significantly more glaucoma knowledge, expressed a significantly stronger belief in the necessity of eye drops and believed that they had more personal control over managing their condition. Control-arm patients had more IOP fluctuation and changes in clinical management. However, this finding only reached significance at 24 months. CONCLUSION: Modelling patient care according to health-care needs and beliefs about illness and medicines can have a significant impact on improving adherence to therapy for this patient group, with the potential benefit of improving clinical outcomes.

Pascal panretinal laser ablation and regression analysis in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: Manchester Pascal Study Report 4.

AIMS: To quantify the 20-ms Pattern Scan Laser (Pascal) panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) ablation dosage required for regression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and to explore factors related to long-term regression. METHODS: We retrospectively studied a cohort of patients who participated in a randomised clinical trial, the Manchester Pascal Study. In all, 36 eyes of 22 patients were investigated over a follow-up period of 18 months. Primary outcome measures included visual acuity (VA) and complete PDR regression. Secondary outcomes included laser burn dosimetry, calculation of retinal PRP ablation areas, and effect of patient-related factors on disease regression. A PDR subgroup analysis was undertaken to assess all factors related to PDR regression according to disease severity. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in logMAR VA for any group over time. In total, 10 eyes (28%) regressed after a single PRP. Following top-up PRP treatment, regression rates varied according to severity: 75% for mild PDR (n=6), 67% for moderate PDR (n=14), and 43% in severe PDR (n=3). To achieve complete disease regression, mild PDR required a mean of 2187 PRP burns and 264 mm(2) ablation area, moderate PDR required 3998 PRP burns and area 456 mm(2), and severe PDR needed 6924 PRP laser burns (836 mm(2); P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple 20-ms PRP treatments applied over time does not adversely affect visual outcomes, with favourable PDR regression rates and minimal laser burn expansion over 18 months. The average laser dosimetry and retinal ablation areas to achieve complete regression increased significantly with worsening PDR.

High-resolution hyperspectral imaging of the retina with a modified fundus camera.

PURPOSE: to examine the practical feasibility of developing a hyperspectral camera from a Zeiss fundus camera and to illustrate its use in imaging diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma patients. METHODS: the original light source of the camera was replaced with an external lamp filtered by a fast tunable liquid-crystal filter. The filtered light was then brought into the camera through an optical fiber. The original film camera was replaced by a digital camera. Images were obtained in normals and patients (primary open angle glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy) recruited at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. RESULTS: a series of eight images were captured across 495- to 720-nm wavelengths, and recording time was less than 1.6s. The light level at the cornea was below the ANSI limits, and patients judged the measurement to be very comfortable. Images were of high quality and were used to generate a pixel-to-pixel oxygenation map of the optic nerve head. Frame alignment is necessary for frame-to-frame comparison but can be achieved through simple methods. CONCLUSIONS: we have developed a hyperspectral camera with high spatial and spectral resolution across the whole visible spectrum that can be adapted from a standard fundus camera. The hyperspectral technique allows wavelength-specific visualization of retinal lesions that may be subvisible using a white light source camera. This hyperspectral technique may facilitate localization of retinal and disc pathology and consequently facilitate the diagnosis and management of retinal disease.

Preliminary survey of educational support for patients prescribed ocular hypotensive therapy.

PURPOSE: to establish the impact of educational support on patients' knowledge of glaucoma and adherence, in preparation for an intervention study. METHODS: structured observation encapsulated the educational support provided during clinical consultations and patient interviews captured the depth of glaucoma knowledge, problems associated with glaucoma therapy, and adherence issues. RESULTS: one hundred and thirty-eight patients completed the study. Education was didactic in nature, limited for many patients and inconsistent across clinics. Patients showed generally poor knowledge of glaucoma with a median score of 6 (range 0-16). A significant association was found between educational support and knowledge for newly prescribed patients (Kendall's tau=0.30, P=0.003), but no association was found for follow-up patients (Kendall's tau=0.11, P=0.174). Only five (6%) patients admitted to a doctor that they did not adhere to their drop regimen, yet 75 (94%) reported at interview that they missed drops. CONCLUSIONS: although important, knowledge alone may not sufficiently improve adherence: a patient-centred approach based on ongoing support according to need may provide a more effective solution for this patient group.

Pain responses of Pascal 20 ms multi-spot and 100 ms single-spot panretinal photocoagulation: Manchester Pascal Study, MAPASS report 2.

AIMS: To evaluate pain responses following Pascal 20 ms multi-spot and 100 ms single-spot panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). METHODS: Single-centre randomised clinical trial. 40 eyes of 24 patients with treatment-naive proliferative diabetic retinopathy randomised to 20 and 100 ms PRP under topical 0.4% oxybuprocaine. A masked grader used a pain questionnaire within 1 h (numerical pain score (NPS)) and 1 month after treatment (numerical headache score (NHS)). Primary outcome measure was NPS immediately post-PRP. Secondary outcome measures were mean NHS scores and levels of photophobia reported within 4 weeks of primary PRP. RESULTS: Mean laser fluence was significantly lower using 20 ms PRP (4.8 J/cm²) compared to 100 ms PRP (11.8 J/cm²); p < 0.001). Mean NPS scores for treatment were 2.4 (2.3) (mild) for 20 ms PRP group compared to 4.9 (3.3) (moderate) in 100 ms PRP group-a significant difference (95% CI 4.3 to 0.68; p = 0.006). Mean NHS score within 1 month was 1.5 (2.7) in 20 ms PRP group compared to 3.2 (3.5) in the 100 ms PRP group (p < 0.05). The median duration of photophobia after 20 ms PRP was 3 h, and significantly less compared to 100 ms PRP after which 72 h of photophobia was reported (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Multi-spot 20 ms PRP was associated with significantly lower levels of anxiety, headache, pain and photophobia compared to 100 ms single-spot PRP treatment. Possible reasons include lower fluence, shorter-pulse duration, and spatial summation of laser nociception with multi-spot Pascal technique.

Patterns and rate of adherence to glaucoma therapy using an electronic dosing aid.

AIMS AND PURPOSE: To identify patterns and rates of adherence with travoprost eye drops using the Travatan dosing aid (TDA) and to present a method for graphically presenting adherence data. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study of patients on travoprost (prostaglandin) monotherapy. Patients were dispensed a TDA and followed up after approximately 3 months of usage. Data were downloaded from the TDA into a computer for analysis. Analysis used inter-dose intervals (the time between each dosing) to look at adherence between days 4 and 75. RESULTS: In all, 100 patients were invited to participate, 53 agreed and complete TDA data sets were obtained from 37. In total 23 of the complete data sets showed good adherence (dosing within +/-4 h of the agreed dosing time on >80% of occasions), 3 patients discontinued usage before 75 days, 4 showed frequent drug holidays (no dosing for > or =8 days) and 7 frequently missed doses with adherence rates of <60%. Of the 16 patients for whom no TDA data was obtained, 5 were lost to follow-up, 4 had faulty/damaged TDAs, 3 changed medication, 3 preferred not to use the TDA, and 1 was hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: There were four easily defined patterns of adherence; (1) good adherence; (2) discontinued usage; (3) frequent drug holidays; and (4) frequent missed doses with low adherence rates. A new method for graphically presenting adherence data helps clinicians identify the pattern of usage and is a valuable aid to the overall management of patients on travoprost therapy.

Effects of conventional argon panretinal laser photocoagulation on retinal nerve fibre layer and driving visual fields in diabetic retinopathy.

AIMS: To determine the effects of argon green panretinal laser photocoagulation on retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, threshold visual fields, and Estermann full-binocular visual fields over time in diabetic retinopathy. METHOD: Prospective, pilot clinical study. Time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) of the optic nerve head and 24-2 SITA-Fast Humphrey/Estermann visual fields (HVF, EVFs) recorded at baseline, 10 weeks, and 6 months post laser. Quantitative field analysis of central 10 degrees, 24 degrees, and binocular visual fields. RESULTS: A total of 10 eye samples were subjected to uncomplicated multiple-session 100 ms panretinal laser using 2000 burns, 300-microm spot, and mean power of 136 mW (SD+/-39.3). TD-OCT detected and quantified an increase in mean retinal nerve fibre layer thickness at 10 weeks (+8 microm; P<0.05) and progressive thinning at 6 months (-4 microm; P<0.05) compared with baseline. Mean threshold sensitivities, and 10 degrees and 24 degrees HVF improved at both time points in the majority (9 of 10 and 8 of 10) of patients. EVFs showed no significant change with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study shows that conventional argon laser panretinal photocoagulation may increase the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in the short term, presumably related to laser-induced axonal injury, with progressive thinning of nerve fibre layer over the long term. The 10 degrees and 24 degrees visual fields improved significantly after laser with no adverse effects on the UK standard driving fields.

Fundus autofluorescence and Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography imaging of 10 and 20 millisecond Pascal retinal photocoagulation treatment.

AIM: To report the evolution of pattern scanning laser (Pascal) photocoagulation burns in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (AF), and to evaluate these characteristics with clinically visible alterations in outer retina (OR) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). METHODS: Standard red-free and colour fundus photography (FP), FD-OCT, and fundus camera-based AF were performed in 17 eyes of 11 patients following macular and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). RESULTS: One hour following Pascal application, visibility of threshold burns on FP was incomplete. AF enabled visualisation of complete treatment arrays at 1 h, with hypoautofluorescence at sites of each laser burn. AF signals accurately correlated with localised increased optical reflectivity within the outer retina on FD-OCT. AF signals became hyperautofluorescent at 1 week, and corresponded on FD-OCT to defects at the junction of the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptors (JI/OSP) and upper surface of RPE. A 10 ms macular laser pulse produced a localised defect at the level of JI/OSP and RPE. Macular and 20 ms PRP burns did not enlarge at 1 year's and 18 months' follow-up respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We report the in vivo spatial localisation and clinical correlation of medium-pulse Pascal photocoagulation burns within outer retina and RPE, using high-resolution FD-OCT and AF. Ophthalmoscopically invisible and threshold Pascal burns may be accurately localised and mapped by AF and FD-OCT, with monitoring over time.

The effectiveness of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph and laser diagnostic glaucoma scanning system (GDx) in detecting and monitoring glaucoma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the potential of optic nerve head tomography [Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT)] and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) for identifying patients with glaucomatous visual field loss. DESIGN: Examinations were performed with the HRT, GDx and Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA). Glaucoma was defined by the presence of a field defect. Patients within the cross-sectional groups underwent a single examination, whereas patients in the longitudinal groups were examined 6 monthly, for an average of 3.5 years. SETTING: Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or who were at risk of developing glaucoma. INTERVENTIONS: The diagnostic accuracies of the HRT and GDx were compared; specificity was set at 95%. The rate of change was determined by linear regression. To estimate the clinical application of the instruments, the proportion of an unselected group of patients on whom the examinations could be performed was calculated. Additionally, the time taken to perform and process each examination was measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ability of the techniques to identify cases showing deterioration. The level of agreement and applicability of the techniques. Time taken to perform and process each examination. RESULTS: From the cross-sectional group, the maximum sensitivities of the HRT and GDx were 59% and 45%, respectively (at 95% specificity). From the two longitudinal cohorts, the level of agreement between the three instruments for identification of the development and deterioration of POAG was low. The applicability of the techniques was 80% (HRT), 88% (GDx) and 98% (HFA). The length of time to perform a full examination with each instrument was 12.3, 11.8 and 28.3 minutes, respectively. Agreement of HRT and GDx parameters between and within observers was largely good. CONCLUSIONS: There is poor agreement for detection of glaucoma between the HFA, HRT and GDx. The techniques are amenable to use in the clinical environment, but no single examination has sufficient diagnostic precision to be used in isolation; also, the imaging techniques were not universally applicable. Neither the HRT nor GDx should be viewed as a replacement for visual field examination. Further research is needed into why most patients within the longitudinal arms of the study showed very little deterioration and into determining aspects of the structure versus function relationship in glaucoma that may explain why any one technique fails to detect a proportion of cases.

The correlation between optic nerve head topographic measurements, peripapillary nerve fibre layer thickness, and visual field indices in glaucoma.

AIMS: To establish whether the structural parameters provided by the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT) and the laser diagnostics glaucoma scanning system (GDx) can be used to reflect functional damage in the visual field. METHODS: 62 patients with primary open angle glaucoma underwent examination with the HRT, GDx, and Humphrey field analyser. The relations between the topographic parameters, retinal nerve fibre parameters, and visual field indices were analysed by scatter plot and linear regression. RESULTS: Among the topographic parameters generated by the HRT, rim area had the best correlation with visual field indices. The "number," maximum modulation, and ellipse modulation generated by the GDx also had correlations with visual field indices. The correlations were better for the sectoral parameters than the global parameters. However, great interindividual variation was found in the association. CONCLUSION: Although relations were found between some topographic parameters, RNFL parameters, and visual field indices, great interindividual variation limits the prediction of one parameter from the other. Therefore, both structural and functional aspects should be evaluated in order to obtain full characterisation of the glaucomatous damage for clinical judgment and treatment.

Community refinement of glaucoma referrals.

AIM: To describe a Manchester-based glaucoma referral refinement scheme designed to reduce the number of false-positive referrals to the hospital eye service. To report on the first years results of this scheme and its financial costs to the NHS. METHODS: Patients with suspected glaucoma, instead of being referred to their GP and then on to the hospital eye service, were referred to a group of specially trained community optometrists working to an agreed set of referral criteria. Those patients who did not meet the referral criteria were returned to the referring optometrist, while those who met the referral criteria were referred directly to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. The patient's GP was informed in all cases. RESULTS: The number of suspect glaucoma cases referred to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital was reduced by 40%. This figure is close to the percentage of false-positive referrals measured at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital prior to the onset of this study. The information accompanying referral has been improved and the scheme produces a small financial cost saving to the NHS of approximately 17 pounds sterling per patient. CONCLUSION: Community refinement of suspect glaucoma offers some important benefits over the current referral pathway.

A clinical evaluation of random dot stereoacuity cards in infants.

PURPOSE: To clinically evaluate the random dot stereoacuity cards developed by Birch and Salomao on a population of infants within the first 12 months of life and to generate baseline normative data. METHODS: Random dot stereoacuity cards were constructed using vectographic vertical bar stimuli with cross disparities ranging from 45 to 1735 seconds of arc (1.65 to 3.2 log seconds of arc). Wearing polarising goggles, infants were assessed using a two-alternative forced choice preferential looking staircase procedure. Success rate and stereoacuity values for performance as a function of age were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-seven tests were completed on 41 infants with ages ranging from 5 to 56 weeks. The random dot stereoacuity procedure was successful in 128 (72.3%) infants, success being dependent upon age. At 0-8 weeks of age, none of the infants produced a fixation preferance towards even the coarsest stereogram. The success rate increased to 50% at 9-16 weeks, 97% at 17-24 weeks, 93% at 25-36 weeks, dropping to 69% at 37-56 weeks due to increasing intolerance to the goggles. Stereopsis was not demonstrable in infants under 8 weeks of age. By 9-16 weeks the mean stereoacuity level was 2.91 log seconds of arc, further increasing to 2.53 at 17-24 weeks, reducing slightly to 2.65 at 25-36 weeks. At 37-56 weeks the mean stereoacuity value was recorded as 2.53 log seconds of arc. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the infant random dot stereoacuity cards provide a simple, quick and portable test for the clinical assessment of stereopsis in infants aged between 17 and 36 weeks, and should prove to be a useful clinical tool to monitor infants at risk of binocular vision disorders.

Macular pigment and risk for age-related macular degeneration in subjects from a Northern European population.

PURPOSE: Age and advanced disease in the fellow eye are the two most important risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between these variables and the optical density of macular pigment (MP) in a group of subjects from a northern European population. METHODS: The optical density of MP was measured psychophysically in 46 subjects ranging in age from 21 to 81 years with healthy maculae and in 9 healthy eyes known to be at high-risk of AMD because of advanced disease in the fellow eye. Each eye in the latter group was matched with a control eye on the basis of variables believed to be associated with the optical density of MP (iris color, gender, smoking habits, age, and lens density). RESULTS: There was an age-related decline in the optical density of macular pigment among volunteers with no ocular disease (right eye: r(2) = 0.29, P = 0.0006; left eye: r(2) = 0.29, P < 0.0001). Healthy eyes predisposed to AMD had significantly less MP than healthy eyes at no such risk (Wilcoxon's signed rank test: P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The two most important risk factors for AMD are associated with a relative absence of MP. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin may delay, avert, or modify the course of this disease.

Quantitative comparison of static perimetric strategies in early glaucoma: test-retest variability.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe and compare test-retest variability of threshold-related suprathreshold and threshold examination strategies. METHODS: Threshold-related suprathreshold and FASTPAC threshold central visual field examinations were performed twice (test and retest) within a 4-week period on 322 subjects with early to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma and glaucoma suspects. For both strategies, defects were quantified by a count, or score, of the number of defective locations within the field as a whole and by hemifield, thereby providing a simple measure of defect extent. This quantification was obtained for the suprathreshold strategy at three suprathreshold increments (5, 8, and 12 dB) and for the full threshold strategy at two levels of pattern deviation probability, although absolute full threshold defect depth was not considered. Mean test-retest score differences and spread of score differences were used to describe variability. An index of relative variability was used to compare the two visual field examination strategies. RESULTS: Marked degrees of defect extent variability were found to exist in both suprathreshold and FASTPAC examination strategies. In general, the suprathreshold strategy exhibited lower test-retest variability of defect extent than the FASTPAC strategy. Suprathreshold test variability was dependent on the suprathreshold increment. FASTPAC examination variability was independent of defect depth when analyzed on the basis of pattern deviation probability values and was also found to be independent of the area of visual field loss. CONCLUSIONS: Suprathreshold examination techniques may provide a reliable perimetric alternative to thresholding strategies for monitoring individuals with early and moderate glaucoma, although they may not be suitable for individuals with advanced glaucomatous visual field loss.

Response variability in the visual field: comparison of optic neuritis, glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and normal eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare the relationship between sensitivity and response variability in the visual field of normal eyes and eyes with optic neuritis (ON), glaucoma (POAG), and ocular hypertension (OHT). METHODS: Frequency-of-seeing (FOS) data were collected from four visual field locations in one eye of 71 subjects (12 ON, 25 POAG, 11 OHT, and 23 normal), using a constant stimulus method on an Henson 4000 perimeter (Tinsley Instruments, Croydon, UK). At each location, at least 20 stimuli (subtending 0.5 degrees) were presented for 200 ms at six or more intensities above and below the estimated threshold. The mean and SD of the probit fitted cumulative Normal function were used to estimate sensitivity and response variability. Cluster regression analysis was carried out to determine whether there were differences in the sensitivity-log (variability) relationship between the four groups. RESULTS: Variability was found to increase with decreased sensitivity for all four groups. The combined data from the four groups was well represented (R2 = 0.57) by the function log(e)(SD) = A.sensitivity (dB) + B, where the constants A and B were -0.081 (SE, +/-0.005) and 3.27 (SE, +/-0.15), respectively. Including other statistically significant covariates (false-negative errors, P = 0.004) and factors (diagnosis, P = 0.005) into the model increased the proportion of explained variance to 62% (R2 = 0.62). Stimulus eccentricity (P = 0.34), patient age (P = 0.33), fixation loss rate (P = 0.10), and false-positive rate (P = 0.66) did not reach statistical significance as additional predictors of response variability. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between response variability and sensitivity is similar for ON, POAG, OHT, and normal eyes. These results provide supporting evidence for the hypothesis that response variability is dependent on functional ganglion cell density.

Diffuse loss of sensitivity in early glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To establish whether there is significant diffuse loss of sensitivity in a population of patients with early glaucoma. METHODS: The differential light sensitivities at the 10 most sensitive locations from within the central 24 degrees of program 30-2 of the Humphrey Field Analyzer (Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, CA) were compared in 38 pairs of age-matched subjects, one of each pair with early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and the other with normal eyes. All subjects had had experience with automated perimetry and had clear media, visual acuity of 20/25 or better, and one or fewer false-positive or false-negative responses to catch trials. RESULTS: The mean difference in age between the subjects with glaucoma and normal subjects was 29 days (P = 0.44, maximum 1.42 years). The mean paired difference in pupil size was 0.16 mm (P = 0.26), and visual acuity was higher in the glaucoma-affected subjects (P = 0.044). The 10 highest sensitivity measurements in the POAG-affected subjects were found to be lower by a median of between 1.0 and 2.0 dB than those in the normal pair members (0.0001

The effect of six weeks topical nasal betamethasone drops on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and bone turnover in patients with nasal polyposis.

Betamethasone topical nasal drops may have systemic corticosteroid activity and cause suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and impairment of bone turnover. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a standard 6-week regime of betamethasone topical nasal drops on the HPA axis (using a physiological dose (1 microg) ACTH test) and on bone turnover (using markers of bone turnover, urinary deoxypyridinoline and serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase). Eleven patients with nasal polyposis were included in a prospective cohort study. Plasma cortisol was lower after betamethasone treatment at all time intervals (P < 0. 0001). There was no change in urinary deoxypyridinoline corrected for creatinine or bone specific alkaline phosphatase. Six weeks' treatment with recommended doses of betamethasone suppresses the HPA axis, but has no significant effect upon markers of bone turnover. Topical betamethasone in subjects with nasal polyps should be viewed as systemic corticosteroid administration and the long and short-term sequelae should be borne in mind.