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Yoriko Hayasaka, MD; Seiji Hayasaka, MD; Xue-Yun Zhang, PhD; Yasunori Nagaki, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120:950-953.

Objective  To evaluate the role of topical instillation of anti-inflammatory or antiallergic agents on experimental elevation of aqueous flare induced by prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in pigmented rabbits.

Methods  Transcorneal diffusion of PGE₂, 25 µg/mL (7.09 x 10 ^-2mmol/L), by means of a glass cylinder produced aqueous flare elevation. Anti-inflammatory or antiallergic agents were topically administered once or twice before PGE₂ application. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare-cell meter. Results are given as mean ± SD.

Results  Double instillations of 0.1% betamethasone sodium phosphate and 0.1% fluorometholone acetate at 4 and 2 hours before PGE₂ application inhibited 61% ± 11% and 46% ± 14%, respectively, of flare elevation. Double instillations of 0.1% diclofenac sodium and 0.1% pranoprofen at 4 and 2 hours before PGE₂ application did not inhibit flare elevation. Double instillations of 0.1% betamethasone, 0.1% fluorometholone, 0.1% diclofenac, and 0.1% pranoprofen at 1 and 0.5 hour before PGE₂ application inhibited 16% ± 10%, 16% ± 6%, 24% ± 9%, and 23% ± 10%, respectively, of flare elevation. Double instillations of 2% cromolyn sodium, 0.5% tranilast, 0.025% levocabastine hydrochloride, 0.1% pemirolast potassium, and 0.01% ibudilast at 1 and 0.5 hour before PGE₂ application did not inhibit flare elevation. Single instillation of 0.1% betamethasone 6 hours before PGE₂ application inhibited 88% of PGE₂-induced aqueous flare elevation. Single instillation of 0.1% diclofenac 1 hour before PGE₂ application inhibited 23% of PGE₂-induced aqueous flare elevation.

Conclusions  Betamethasone needed several hours after topical instillation to inhibit flare elevation, but diclofenac needed 1 hour. Antiallergic agents did not affect disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier in rabbits.

Clinical Relevance  Corticosteroid eyedrops may need several hours from instillation to show action.

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan.