Evaluation of 0.05% levocabastine versus 4% sodium cromolyn in the allergen challenge model.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 0.05% levocabastine compared with 4% cromolyn for treating allergic conjunctivitis induced by ocular allergen challenge.


METHODS
Subjects who met all entry criteria and reacted positively to ocular allergen challenge at two previous visits (n = 50) received placebo in one eye and cromolyn in the fellow eye, four times daily for 2 weeks. On day 18, subjects received the final dose of cromolyn in the pretreated eye and one drop of levocabastine in the fellow eye. Subjects were challenged and evaluated after 3, 5, and 10 minutes. Four hours after drug administration, subjects were rechallenged and evaluated after 3, 5, and 10 minutes.


RESULTS
Levocabastine was significantly more effective than cromolyn in inhibiting itching, hyperemia, eyelid swelling, chemosis, and tearing after the initial challenge and 4-hour rechallenge (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that levocabastine is superior to cromolyn for treating allergen-induced conjunctivitis and has a duration of action of at least 4 hours.
Abelson
M B
MB
Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
George
M A
MA
Smith
L M
LM
D000485:Allergens; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000485:Allergens; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010880:Piperidines; C047340:levocabastine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium