[Efficacy of pneumatic traheculoplasty (PNT) in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension--a preliminary report].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of PNT in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients treated for open angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OH).


METHODS
The study group consisted of 24 eyes of 14 patients (10 F and 4 M), aged from 35 to 72 (mean 53.7 +/- 8.7) who were treated for OAG or OH. Twelve patients were treated with prostaglandin analogues (PA) in monotherapy, one patient with PG and nonselective beta-bloker (BB) and one patient with PG, BB and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI). The baseline mean IOP measured with Goldmann tonometry one hour before first PNT procedure was 20.7 +/- 3.3 mmHg (range 16-27). The PNT was performed routinely at 0 and 7-10 day using PNT Unit 1000-Coronado (Ophthalmic International, Inc., Fountain Hills, Arizona, U.S.A.). Then the IOP was measured monthly and if increased to the preoperative values the procedure was repeated. The mean observation time was 6 months, with the shortest and longest follow-up being 4 and 12 months, respectively. The IOP changes were estimated one hour after the first PNT on day 0, then on day 7-10, after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months. A paired Student's t test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The mean IOP measured one hour after PNT was 19.26 +/- 4.0 mmHg (p = 0.17). After 7 days mean IOP was 17.35 +/- 2.64 mmHg (p<0.01), after one month 16.52 +/- 2.81 mmHg (p<0.01) and after next months 16.37 +/- 2.61 mmHg (p<0.01), 17.63 +/- 2.28 mmHg (p<0.01), 15.64 +/- 2.06 mmHg (p<0.01), 16.14 +/- 3.42 mmHg (p< 0.01) i 16.64 +/- 3.14 mmHg (p<0.01), respectively. The mean IOP reduction was 1.48 mmHg (7.14%) one hour after PNT procedure, 3.39 mmHg (16.35%) after 7-10 days, 4,22 mmHg (20.35%) after one month, then respectively 4.37 mmHg (21.07%), 3.11 mmHg (15.02%), 5.10 mmHg (24.59%), 4.60 mmHg (22.18%) and 4.10 mmHg (19.77%) after 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months of observation. In 8 eyes the procedure was repeated again after 3 months, in 4 eyes after 6 months and in 2 eyes after 12 months. After the procedures transient moderate conjunctival hyperemia was observed in 24 eyes (100%) and mild subconjunctival hemorrhagies in 4 eyes (16%). Lasting a few hours after the PNT procedure foreign body sensations occured in 3/14 patients (21%).


CONCLUSIONS
PNT is an effective method of lowering IOP in patients treated for OAG and OH.
Wierzbowska
Joanna
J
Z Kliniki Okulistycznej Wojskowego Instytutu Medycznego, Warszawie. joanna.wierzbowska@gmail.com
Stankiewicz
Andrzej
A
Romańska
Łucja
Ł
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000379:methods; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic