Around-the-clock intraocular pressure reduction with once-daily application of latanoprost by itself or in combination with timolol.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether once-daily, in the morning, topical application of the new ocular hypotensive prostaglandin analogue, latanoprost, yields nocturnal intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction similar to its diurnal IOP reducing efficacy.


METHODS
Placebo- controlled, randomized, and double-masked study on hospitalized patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma. Patients in group 1 (n=9) were maintained on twice-daily applications of 0.5% timolol maleate. Patients in group 2 (n=10) terminated their timolol treatment 3 weeks before the beginning of the study. In both groups the test drug (0.005% latanoprost) and its vehicle (placebo) was applied by hospital staff every morning for 9 days.


METHODS
After 4 days of ambulatory treatment, patients were hospitalized, and IOP values were obtained in the supine and sitting positions with a handheld electronic tonometer (Tono-Pen XL, Bio-Rad, Glendale, Calif) and a Goldmann's applanation tonometer, covering every 2-hour interval, around the clock, but not more than at four time points per day during a 5-day period.


RESULTS
The mean nocturnal IOPs (Goldmann's applanation tonometer) collected for 5 days were mean +/-SEM 17.9+/-0.6 vs 20.2+/-0.6 mm Hg and 16.8+/-0.3 vs 20.6+/-0.5 mm Hg for the study vs the control eyes in group 1 and group 2, respectively. These nocturnal IOP reductions were statistically significant (P<.001, two-tailed paired Student's t test). The differences between diurnal and nocturnal IOP reductions (handheld electronic or Goldmann's applanation tonometer) were minimal (>0.3 mm Hg) and statistically not significant (P>.31, two-tailed paired Student's t test).


CONCLUSIONS
Once-daily latanoprost treatment provides uniform circadian (around-the-clock) IOP reduction by itself, or in combination with timolol.
Rácz
P
P
Department of Ophthalmology, Markusovszky Hospital, Szombathely, Hungary.
Ruzsonyi
M R
MR
Nagy
Z T
ZT
Gaygi
Z
Z
Bito
L Z
LZ
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011187:Posture; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000379:methods
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost; D013999:Timolol