Topical flurbiprofen pretreatment does not block apraclonidine's effect on aqueous flow in humans
C. McCannel, T. Koskela and R. F. Brubaker
Mayo Medical School, Rochester, Minn.
Flurbiprofen's effect on the ability of apraclonidine hydrochloride
(para-aminoclonidine) to reduce aqueous humor flow was studied in 20
healthy human volunteers. Flurbiprofen sodium, in a 0.03% concentration,
was administered topically to one eye and a placebo to the contralateral
eye of each subject in a random, double-masked fashion. A total of four
drops was administered to each eye during a 30-minute period beginning at 7
AM. Thirty minutes later, one drop of 1% apraclonidine was instilled into
each eye. Flow rates were measured with fluorophotometry from 7 AM to noon.
The mean (+/- SD) rate of flow after administration of flurbiprofen and
apraclonidine at the peak of apraclonidine's effect was 1.56 +/- 0.50
microL/min, and after administration of placebo and apraclonidine was 1.53
+/- 0.43 microL/min. With a sample size of 20 and a coefficient of
variation of flow measurement of 15%, there is a 95% chance of detecting a
difference in flow rate of 15% or greater using the techniques employed in
this study. Since there was no statistically significant difference between
the rates of flow under the two conditions, we conclude that flurbiprofen
has no appreciable effect on apraclonidine's ability to suppress aqueous
flow.
