Oral pilocarpine improves radiotherapy-induced dry eyes.
We report a patient with angiosarcoma of the scalp, who was treated with radiotherapy that included both orbits. Following treatment, he developed dry eyes, which improved with oral pilocarpine. Although this drug is used to stimulate salivary flow in patients with radiotherapy-induced xerostomia, it has not been reported before as a treatment for dry eyes following radiotherapy.
Kumar
S
S
Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
Tyler
A B
AB
Phillips
S
S
Burnet
N G
NG
D000368:Aged; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D010862:Pilocarpine