title: Recent patents and emerging therapeutics in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
abstract: Ocular allergy is an inflammatory response of the conjunctival mucosa that also affects the cornea and eyelids. Allergic conjunctivitis includes seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC), vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC). In general, allergic conditions involve mast cell degranulation that leads to release of inflammatory mediators and activation of enzymatic cascades generating pro-inflammatory mediators. In chronic ocular inflammatory disorders associated with mast cell activation such as VKC and AKC constant inflammatory response is observed due to predominance of inflammatory mediators such as eosinophils and Th2-generated cytokines. Antihistamines, mast-cell stabilizers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids and immunomodulatory agents are commonly indicated for the treatment of acute and chronic allergic conjunctivitis. In recent years newer drug molecules have been introduced in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. This article reviews recent patents and emerging therapeutics in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO 64108-2718, USA.
authors.forename: Gyan P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Viral
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tamboli
authors.forename: Jwala
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jwala
authors.forename: Ashim K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mitra
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D007155:Immunologic Factors