Polymorphonuclear leukocyte response. Inhibition following corneal epithelial denudation by steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents

B. D. Srinivasan and P. S. Kulkarni

Topically administered nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), indomethacin (0.5%), flurbiprofen (0.01%), and aspirin (0.5%), as well as the steroidal anti-inflammatory drug 1% prednisolone acetate but not dexamethasone (0.1%) or fluorometholone (0.1%) inhibited the acute polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) response following partial and complete corneal de-epithelialization. Intraperitoneal doses of indomethacin (100 mg/kg), flurbiprofen (100 mg/kg), and aspirin (600 mg/kg) inhibited the PMN response after partial de-epithelialization, but only indomethacin (100 mg/kg) inhibited the PMN response following complete corneal de-epithelialization. Conjunctival prostaglandin biosynthesis was inhibited effectively at these doses by indomethacin and flurbiprofen. These results suggest that indomethacin is more consistent than either flurbiprofen or aspirin in blocking the PMN response following partial or complete epithelial denudation. However, topical applications of flurbiprofen is 50 times more potent than indomethacin in blocking the PMN response and partial corneal denudation.