title: Enhanced ocular hypotensive response to epinephrine with prior dexamethasone treatment.
abstract: In 12 patients with ocular hypertension and similar pressures in each eye, one eye was randomly selected in a masked manner for pretreatment with three applications of topical 0.01% dexamethasone sodium phosphate drops prepared in artificial tears. The other eye was treated with three applications of drops of artificial tears alone. Both eyes were then treated with 0.1% epinephrine hydrochloride drops. Ocular pressures were measured for the next 2 hours at 20-minute intervals. When compared with eyes treated with epinephrine drops alone, eyes pretreated with dexamethasone drops showed a significantly greater decrease in pressure (mean [+/- SD] maximum difference, 3.1 +/- 2.1 mm Hg). Five patients had a difference of 1.0 to 4.0 mm Hg and five patients had a difference of 4.0 to 6.0 mm Hg. Two patients showed no response. Younger age was associated with the greater response. Adrenergic-glucocorticoid synergism resulting in the lowering of ocular pressure may offer a potential for therapeutic use in ocular hypertension and glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, New England Medical Center Hospitals, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bealka
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011292:Premedication; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D004837:Epinephrine