Twenty-four-hour diurnal curve comparison of commercially available latanoprost 0.005% versus the timolol and dorzolamide fixed combination.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of commercially available latanoprost 0.005% given every evening versus timolol 0.5% and dorzolamide 2% fixed combination (TDFC) given twice daily to white Greeks with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.


METHODS
A single-masked, two-center, crossover comparison with two 6-week treatment periods occurring after at least a 3-week medicine-free period. Diurnal curve intraocular pressures were taken at 2:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 10:00 PM.


METHODS
Thirty-four subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were enrolled.


METHODS
Latanoprost 0.005% given every evening and TDFC twice daily.


METHODS
The primary efficacy variable was diurnal intraocular pressure.


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients completed the study. On the last day of treatment, the mean diurnal intraocular pressure for latanoprost was 15.9 +/- 2.3 mmHg and for TDFC was 15.3 +/- 2.0 mmHg (P = 0.05). Individual time points for intraocular pressure were not statistically different between groups except at the 10:00 PM time point, when the mean for TDFC was 14.6 +/- 2.7 mmHg and for latanoprost was 16.6 +/- 3.1 mmHg (P < 0.006). Eighteen patients overall preferred latanoprost versus 2 patients for the fixed combination, generally because of the greater convenience of once daily dosing. Adverse events were not significantly different between groups except that a bitter taste was found more frequently with TDFC (n = 9) than with latanoprost (n = 0; P = 0.009). Despite screening to exclude intolerance to beta-blockers, a single patient had to discontinue the TDFC because of new-onset asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that the 24-hour diurnal intraocular pressure is lowered more, by a small but statistically significant amount, with TDFC compared with latanoprost in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.
Konstas
Anastasios G P
AG
University Department of Ophthalmology, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Papapanos
Panayiotis
P
Tersis
Ioannis
I
Houliara
Dimitra
D
Stewart
William C
WC
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012449:Safety; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; D000077338:Latanoprost; D013999:Timolol; C062765:dorzolamide