[First Hungarian report of olopatadine eyedrop therapy in children and adults suffering from seasonal allergic conjunctivitis].
The eye drop Opatanol (its main component is olopatadine, which has an antihistaminic and membrane-stabilizing effect) in Hungary is not well known yet.


METHODS
In 2004 and 2005 in the ragweed season we had treat with olopatadine eyedrop for 2 weeks (two times daily) 37 children, who had ragweed allergy. The average age of the 23 boys was 8.8 years, and for the 14 girls 10.5 years. In July and August of 2004 10 adult allergic female (average of their age: 29,2 years) also had receive olopatadine for 2 weeks. The severity of the symptoms was recorded by using a scale from 0 to 3 (where 3 indicates the most severe symptoms) before and 2 weeks after the beginning of the treatment, and the average was calculated.


RESULTS
The discomfort feeling decreased from 2.4 +/- 0.5 to 0.8 +/- 0.2 in children, and from 1.5 +/- 0.9 to 0 in adults, the itching from 2.5 +/- 0.4 to 0.2 +/- 0.1 in children, and from 1.6 +/- 1.2 to 0 in adults, the foreign body sensation from 1.6 +/- 0.9 to 0.7 +/- 0.4 in children, and from 1.3 +/- 1.1 to 0 in adults, the tearing from 1.9 +/- 0.9 to 1.0 +/- 0.3 in children, and from 1.0 +/- 1.0 to 0.1 in adults, and the redness from 2.2 +/- 0.4 to 1.1 +/- 0.2 in children and from 1.9 +/- 0.8 to 0.5 +/- 0.5 in adults. We observed side effect in one child (the redness of the conjunctiva increased after the application of the eye drop) and in two adults (burning sensation for short time, in the other case foreign body sensation for 30 seconds).


CONCLUSIONS
The anti-allergic eye drop olopatadine is a safe and effective treatment for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis even in childhood. It is comfortable, to use twice daily is sufficient.
Endre
László
L
Országos Egészségfejlesztési Intézet, Budapest. endre.laszlo@oefi.hu
Hidasi
Vanda
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003990:Dibenzoxepins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D000069605:Olopatadine Hydrochloride; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003990:Dibenzoxepins; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000069605:Olopatadine Hydrochloride