title: Failure to detect systemic levels, and effects of loteprednol etabonate and its metabolite, PJ-91, following chronic ocular administration.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the systemic exposure to loteprednol etabonate (LE) following its chronic, ocular instillation. This was a randomized, double-masked, placebo controlled, single center trial in 14 normal volunteers. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either LE (n=10) or placebo (n=4) and instructed to instill one drop into each eye 8 times daily on Days 0 and 1 and four times daily on Days 2 through 42. Blood levels of loteprednol etabonate (LE) and its major metabolite PJ-91 (delta1 cortienic acid etabonate) in plasma, and circulating plasma cortisol levels were measured during the study. Plasma levels of LE or PJ-91 were below the level of quantitation (1 ng/mL) for all subjects in both treatment groups. Plasma cortisol levels were all within the normal range. Chronic exposure to LE at a concentration and frequency equal to or greater than the intended therapeutic dose does not result in detectable systemic levels or hypothalamic pituitary axis suppression.
authors.affiliation: Pharmos Corporation, Alachua, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howes
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Novack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D000069559:Loteprednol Etabonate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; C112533:PJ 91 compound; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D000069559:Loteprednol Etabonate