title: Iatrogenic dry eye disease: an eledoisin/carnitine and osmolyte drops study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the effects of an eye drop containing eledoisin and carnitine in patients suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular discomfort syndrome secondary to a chronically treated with eye drops containing benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as preservative. The dry eye disease was defined as a multifactorial drop disease concerning tears and ocular surface, which brings to discomfort symptoms and visual disorders with potential damage to the ocular surface. Several studies underlined the beneficial effects of secretagogues drugs, such as eledoisin. It is a neuro-peptide extracted from the salivary glands of some shellfishes. Recently, it has been also showed the protective role of carnitine in respect of the ocular surface exposed to the tear film hyperosmolarity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized double-blind pilot study has been evaluated by lubricant eye drop solutions containing eledoisin and carnitine in 40 patients with ocular discomfort syndrome secondary to POAG, since that the patients were chronically treated with eye drops which decrease eye pressure and contain BAK as preservative. The subjects filled out a questions form concerning the severity of the symptoms and their impact on daily activities. Subsequently Fluorescein Breakup Time (FBUT), Schirmer Test 1 (ST), and Ocular Protection Index (OPI) were measured at baseline and after 15days of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of therapy it was possible to match the beneficial effects of eye drops with carnitin, taurine, sodium hyaluronate and eledoisin. In fact, after 15days of treatment, patients of group 1 showed a decrease of approximately 50% concerning the severity of symptoms and a significant improvement of the tests valued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, lubricant eye drops that restore physiological hosmolarity and stimulate tear production represent a promising strategy for dry eye syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Centre of Ocular Electrophysiology, viale del policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: marcella.nebbioso@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebbioso
authors.forename: Mariasilvia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Aloisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Librando
authors.forename: Andrea Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Plateroti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pescosolido
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004600:Eledoisin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D004600:Eledoisin; D002331:Carnitine
keywords: Benzalkonium chloride; Carnitine; Dry eye syndrome; Eledoisin; Glaucoma; Schirmer test