Intraocular pressure-raising potential of 1.0% rimexolone in patients responding to corticosteroids
H. M. Leibowitz, J. D. Bartlett, R. Rich, H. McQuirter, R. Stewart and K. Assil
Boston University School of Medicine, Mass, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) elevating potential of
1.0% rimexolone and 0.1% fluorometholone alcohol ophthalmic suspensions in
patients known to have responded to corticosteroids. DESIGN: In a
double-masked, randomized, single-eye, crossover protocol, corticosteroid
responsiveness initially was verified in 40 asymptomatic known steroid
responders by challenge with either 0.1% dexamethasone sodium phosphate or
1.0% prednisolone acetate for up to 6 weeks. After a 1-month medication
washout, subjects randomly received either rimexolone or fluorometholone
for 6 weeks. Medications were again discontinued for 1 month, and subjects
then received the alternate drug for 6 weeks. RESULTS: There was no
significant difference between rimexolone and fluorometholone in the number
of subjects demonstrating a 10-mm Hg increase in IOP or in the mean number
of weeks required to achieve a 10-mm Hg response. Responses occurred in
significantly more subjects receiving dexamethasone sodium phosphate (P =
.001) or prednisolone acetate (P < .001) and in a significantly shorter
interval than in subjects receiving rimexolone. CONCLUSIONS: Rimexolone has
a low IOP-elevating potential, comparable to that of fluorometholone and
less than that of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and prednisolone acetate.
