Effect of orally administered hydrocortisone on intraocular pressure in nonglaucomatous dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of oral hydrocortisone on intraocular pressure (IOP) in ocular normotensive dogs.


METHODS
Seventeen ocular normotensive dogs. Procedures Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 9) and control (n = 8) groups. Dogs in the treatment group received hydrocortisone, 3.3 mg/kg PO every 8 h, and dogs in the control group received gelatin capsule placebo PO every 8 h for 5 weeks. Applanation tonometry was performed on both eyes of all dogs prior to treatment and then once weekly for 5 weeks during hydrocortisone treatment.


RESULTS
No significant effect of treatment was noted for right (P = 0.1013) or left (P = 0.1157) eyes during the treatment period, nor was there significant interaction of treatment by week for the right (P = 0.9456) or left (P = 0.3577) eyes. A significant rise in IOP over the treatment period was noted in both right (P < 0.0001) and left (P = 0.0006) eyes of both groups, but was unrelated to treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Orally administered hydrocortisone does not significantly increase IOP in nonglaucomatous dogs when administered over a 5-week period.
Herring
Ian P
IP
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. iherring@vt.edu
Herring
Erin S
ES
Ward
Daniel L
DL
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000662:veterinary
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone