The effect of ketotifen on inflammatory markers in allergic conjunctivitis: an open, uncontrolled study.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy and safety of ketotifen eye drop treatment in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) management is perfectly known by several studies, but the mechanism of action at the biochemical levels is poorly understood so we decided to perform an open, uncontrolled study in order to investigate the effect of the topical administration of ketotifen fumarate 0.05% on biochemical markers of inflammation on conjunctival cells in patients with AC.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with symptoms and signs of AC (itching, discharge, burning, redness, increase in the watery discharge, swelling and follicles) and with a history of allergy were prescribed with two daily instillation of one drop of eyewash ketotifen fumarate 0,05% in both eyes during thirty days. They were studied by measuring clinical and immunologic parameters.


RESULTS
Ketotifen fumarate treatment significantly reduced the total symptoms and signs score for each patient as well as each symptoms and signs at all time points compared with day 0 (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.016, respectively). Although the percentage of HLA-DR+ epithelial cells diminished only in 58% of patients, the numbers of CD29+ and eotaxin+ epithelial cells dropped significantly in 68% and 73 % of them (p < 0.0062 and <0.0082, respectively) as a consequence of the treatment. In 9 out of 19 patients a simultaneous decrease in the percentage of epithelial cells positive for CD29 and eotaxin was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Ketotifen besides the well-known effect in reducing signs and symptoms of AC significantly diminished production of eotaxin and expression of CD29 by epithelial cells in patients with seasonal AC.
Martín
Andrea P
AP
Dpto. Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. amartin@bioclin.fcq.unc.edu.ar
Urrets-Zavalia
Julio
J
Berra
Alejandro
A
Mariani
Ana Lía
AL
Gallino
Norberto
N
Gomez Demel
Eduardo
E
Gagliardi
Julio
J
Baena-Cagnani
Carlos E
CE
Urrets-Zavalia
Enrique
E
Serra
Horacio M
HM
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000378:metabolism*; D002631:Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
D015415:Biomarkers; C515456:CCL11 protein, human; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D002631:Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D019012:Integrin beta1; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D007665:Ketotifen