Asthma caused by topical application of ketorolac.
BACKGROUND
Ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 percent ophthalmic solution is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in ophthalmology. Ketorolac eye drops have not been implicated previously as a cause of NSAID-induced asthma.


METHODS
A patient with severe asthma after topical application of ketorolac is described. The current ophthalmic indications for topical application of ketorolac and reported hypersensitivity reactions with systemic use of ketorolac are reviewed.


RESULTS
A 44-year-old woman with chronic asthma, rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyps inadvertently was given ketorolac to be applied topically. After applying the first dose of ketorolac, an exacerbation of her asthma developed, necessitating hospital admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical application of ketorolac is safe in the vast majority of ophthalmology patients. However, NSAID eye drops should not be prescribed for patients with aspirin or NSAID allergy or the combination of asthma and nasal polyps unless the patient is known to tolerate aspirin without trouble.
Sitenga
G L
GL
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Ing
E B
EB
Van Dellen
R G
RG
Younge
B R
BR
Leavitt
J A
JA
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020911:Ketorolac Tromethamine; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications; D013256:Steroids; D014046:Tolmetin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014325:Tromethamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013256:Steroids; D014325:Tromethamine; D020911:Ketorolac Tromethamine; D014046:Tolmetin; D000420:Albuterol