Effect of 0.005% latanoprost once daily on intraocular pressure in glaucomatous patients not adequately controlled by beta-blockers twice daily: a 3-year follow-up. Experience and incidence of side effects in a prospective study on 76 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and side effects of 0.005% latanoprost once daily during 3 years of treatment in glaucomatous patients in whom intraocular pressure (IOP) was not adequately controlled by beta-blockers twice daily.


METHODS
An unmasked prospective study was performed on 76 glaucomatous patients (145 eyes) treated with 0.005% latanoprost at bedtime, after a 21-day wash-out period from beta-blockers. IOP measurement and visual field examination were recorded over the follow-up period.


RESULTS
Latanoprost significantly reduced IOP from 26.5+/-6.6 mmHg (mean +/- SD) to 17.4+/-2.7 mmHg after 36 months of treatment in 48 patients (63.1%), who completed the trial. Twenty-eight patients (36.8%) discontinued the therapy. In 12 patients (15.8%) the treatment did not obtain a satisfactory target IOP. In two subjects (2.6%), despite the IOP reduction, visual field damage progressed. The remaining 10 patients (13.1%) discontinued the treatment because of the following side effects: microfollicular conjunctivitis (seven cases); severe oedema of conjunctiva and eyelids (one case); corneal punctate erosion (one case); cystoid macular oedema (one case). No flare or pigmentary changes of iris and eyelash were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Latanoprost 0.005% once daily significantly reduces IOP in the majority of glaucomatous patients uncontrolled by beta-blockers. The reduction of IOP was statistically significant during 3 years of follow-up, confirming the clinical efficacy of this compound. The ocular side effects requiring cessation of therapy were mainly allergic reactions. The most severe adverse effects were one case of corneal punctate erosion and one case of cystoid macular oedema in a pseudophakic patient.
Costagliola
Ciro
C
Eye Clinic, University of Ferrara, Italy. sbd@dns.unife.it
Del Prete
Antonio
A
Verolino
Marco
M
Antinozzi
Paolo
P
Fusco
Rosa
R
Parmeggiani
Francesco
F
Mastropasqua
Leonardo
L
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012449:Safety; D014794:Visual Fields
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost