A Case of Monocular Gonococcal Conjunctivitis in an Adult Male / 계명의대학술지

Gonococcal conjunctivitis is rare in adults and, if not treated properly, can cause corneal perforation. Gonococcal conjunctivitis typically presents with a severe mucopurulent discharge, similar to that associated with viral conjunctivitis. Here, we describe a case of monocular gonococcal conjunctivitis, including its clinical characteristics and slit-lamp images, which was initially misdiagnosed as epidemic conjunctivitis. A 20-year-old man was referred to our hospital with no improvement in monocular infection and purulent ocular discharge after 2-wk treatment using antibiotic and 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops at the local ophthalmic clinic. Initially, 0.5% loteprednol eye drops were used since we suspected viral conjunctivitis. Following this treatment, conjunctival infection worsened and a yellow-white ocular discharge covered the conjunctiva and cornea surface. Additional history taking revealed that the patient had sexual contact with a prostitute 1 wk prior to symptom presentation and, after the encounter, he took antibiotics for genital discharge at the local urology clinic, but self-discontinued treatment. A Gram staining showed gram-negative diplococci and culture of collected ocular discharge from the palpebral conjunctiva revealed growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, confirming gonococcal conjunctivitis. Following this, the patient was systemically treated with 3rd generation cephalosporin antibiotics. After 3-d treatment, conjunctival infection and purulent ocular discharge had significantly improved. When clinical symptoms are aggravated following steroid eye drop treatment for suspected monocular viral conjunctivitis, gonococcal conjunctivitis must be considered as a differential diagnosis

Comparison of the Efficacy of Topical Steroids after Trabeculectomy in Patients with Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical outcomes and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after trabeculectomy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) according to treatment with three different postoperative topical steroids. METHODS: A total of 84 eyes of 84 patients who had undergone trabeculectomy for POAG and were followed-up at least 1 year were included in this study. According to the postoperative topical steroid treatment, the patients were divided into three groups involving 0.5% loteprednol etabonate (LE), 1% rimexolone (RMX), and 1% prednisolone acetate (PDA). The mean IOP change, mean number of topical anti-glaucoma medication changes, 1-year success rate, and complication percentage were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in the IOP and number of anti-glaucoma medications during the postoperative 1-year follow-up in all of the groups (all, p < 0.05), but there were no differences among the three groups. Postoperative 1-year success rates (68.2% in the LE group, 67.0% in the RMX group, and 65.9% in the PDA group; p = 0.88) and complication percentages of trabeculectomy were not significantly different among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistical differences in the 1-year success rate, complication percentage, visual acuity, IOP, and number of anti-glaucoma medications among treatment regimens. LE and RMX were as effective and safe as PDA after trabeculectomy in patients with POAG.

The Effect of Anti-inflammatory Agents on the Permeability of Trabecular Meshwork Cell Monolayers

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of anti-inflammatory agents, specifically bromfenac, loteprednol, and prednisolone, on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cell (HTMC) monolayers. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner chamber of Transwell, then exposed to 1/1,000 or 1/500 diluted commercial 0.1% bromfenac, 0.5% loteprednol, and 1% prednisolone for 24 hours. The permeabilities of carboxyfluorescein through the HTMC monolayer were measured with a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viabilities were assessed with an 3-[4,5–dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Bromfenac and loteprednol diluted at 1/1,000 or 1/500 did not significantly affect the cellular survival (p > 0.05). Bromfenac did not affect the permeability via the HTMC monolayer (p > 0.05) and loteprednol decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). In addition, 1/2,000 prednisolone also decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among the anti-inflammatory agents, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent bromfenac did not affect the permeability, while loteprednol and prednisolone decreased the permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, loteprednol and prednisolone may decrease the trabecular outflow.

The Effect of Anti-inflammatory Agents on the Permeability of Trabecular Meshwork Cell Monolayers

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of anti-inflammatory agents, specifically bromfenac, loteprednol, and prednisolone, on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cell (HTMC) monolayers. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner chamber of Transwell, then exposed to 1/1,000 or 1/500 diluted commercial 0.1% bromfenac, 0.5% loteprednol, and 1% prednisolone for 24 hours. The permeabilities of carboxyfluorescein through the HTMC monolayer were measured with a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viabilities were assessed with an 3-[4,5–dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Bromfenac and loteprednol diluted at 1/1,000 or 1/500 did not significantly affect the cellular survival (p > 0.05). Bromfenac did not affect the permeability via the HTMC monolayer (p > 0.05) and loteprednol decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). In addition, 1/2,000 prednisolone also decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among the anti-inflammatory agents, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent bromfenac did not affect the permeability, while loteprednol and prednisolone decreased the permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, loteprednol and prednisolone may decrease the trabecular outflow.

Long-Term Outcome of Treatment with Topical Corticosteroids for Severe Dry Eye Associated with Sjogren's Syndrome / 전남의대학술지

This retrospective study was performed to analyze the long-term outcome of topical corticosteroid treatment for severe dry eye associated with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Patients who had severe dry eye associated with SS were topically treated with loteprednol etabonate 0.5% (group A, n=66) or fluorometholone 0.1% (group B, n=67) twice daily and were followed up for 2 years. Visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (BUT), keratoepitheliopathy, and symptom scores were measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment. VA and IOP were not changed significantly during follow-up in either group. Schirmer test results, keratoepitheliopathy, and symptom scores at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (p<0.05) and tear film BUT at 12, 18, and 24 months (p<0.05) significantly improved after treatment compared with baseline in both groups. No significant differences between the groups were found in any parameter during follow-up. At 24 months, the number of patients with IOP elevation of more than 2 mmHg compared with baseline was 4 in group A (6.1%) and 9 in group B (13.4%). The mean IOP in these patients was lower in group A than in group B (15.00+/-0.82 mmHg versus 16.50+/-1.12 mmHg; p=0.04). Long-term application of low-dose topical corticosteroids is effective for controlling signs and symptoms of chronic, severe dry eye associated with SS. Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% may have a lower risk for IOP elevation than fluorometholone 0.1%.

Long-Term Outcome of Treatment with Topical Corticosteroids for Severe Dry Eye Associated with Sjogren's Syndrome / 전남의대학술지

This retrospective study was performed to analyze the long-term outcome of topical corticosteroid treatment for severe dry eye associated with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Patients who had severe dry eye associated with SS were topically treated with loteprednol etabonate 0.5% (group A, n=66) or fluorometholone 0.1% (group B, n=67) twice daily and were followed up for 2 years. Visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (BUT), keratoepitheliopathy, and symptom scores were measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment. VA and IOP were not changed significantly during follow-up in either group. Schirmer test results, keratoepitheliopathy, and symptom scores at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (p<0.05) and tear film BUT at 12, 18, and 24 months (p<0.05) significantly improved after treatment compared with baseline in both groups. No significant differences between the groups were found in any parameter during follow-up. At 24 months, the number of patients with IOP elevation of more than 2 mmHg compared with baseline was 4 in group A (6.1%) and 9 in group B (13.4%). The mean IOP in these patients was lower in group A than in group B (15.00+/-0.82 mmHg versus 16.50+/-1.12 mmHg; p=0.04). Long-term application of low-dose topical corticosteroids is effective for controlling signs and symptoms of chronic, severe dry eye associated with SS. Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% may have a lower risk for IOP elevation than fluorometholone 0.1%.

Long-Term Outcome of Treatment with Topical Corticosteroids for Severe Dry Eye Associated with Sjogren's Syndrome / 전남의대학술지

This retrospective study was performed to analyze the long-term outcome of topical corticosteroid treatment for severe dry eye associated with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Patients who had severe dry eye associated with SS were topically treated with loteprednol etabonate 0.5% (group A, n=66) or fluorometholone 0.1% (group B, n=67) twice daily and were followed up for 2 years. Visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (BUT), keratoepitheliopathy, and symptom scores were measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment. VA and IOP were not changed significantly during follow-up in either group. Schirmer test results, keratoepitheliopathy, and symptom scores at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (p<0.05) and tear film BUT at 12, 18, and 24 months (p<0.05) significantly improved after treatment compared with baseline in both groups. No significant differences between the groups were found in any parameter during follow-up. At 24 months, the number of patients with IOP elevation of more than 2 mmHg compared with baseline was 4 in group A (6.1%) and 9 in group B (13.4%). The mean IOP in these patients was lower in group A than in group B (15.00+/-0.82 mmHg versus 16.50+/-1.12 mmHg; p=0.04). Long-term application of low-dose topical corticosteroids is effective for controlling signs and symptoms of chronic, severe dry eye associated with SS. Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% may have a lower risk for IOP elevation than fluorometholone 0.1%.

Effects of Prednisolone and Loteprednol Eyedrops on the Proliferation of Human Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of loteprednol etabonate (LE) with prednisolone acetate (PDA) drops on the proliferation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFBs). METHODS: Primarily cultured HTFBs were treated with serially diluted PDA and LE for 3 days. Cellular survival was determined by a rapid colorimetric assay using MTT. RT-PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of TGF-beta mRNA in response to LE and PDA. RESULTS: PDA inhibited proliferation of HTCF in a dose-dependent manner and LE inhibited significantly the proliferation of HTCF at the higher concentration of 50 microg/ml (p < 0.05). Compared to LE, PDA inhibited proliferation of HTCF significantly at each diluted concentration (p < 0.05). Expressions of TGF-beta were decreased as the concentration of both PDA and LE increased. PDA decreased expression of TGF-beta more significantly compared to LE at each concentration (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although LE has offered promising anti-inflammatory efficacy with decreased impact on intraocular pressure, LE may be less effective than PDA in inhibiting fibroblast proliferation and may be not comparable to PDA in preventing excessive scarring after glaucoma filtering surgery.