Daily cost of newer glaucoma agents.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drop characteristics of newer glaucoma medicines compared to timolol solution and timolol gel forming solution (Timoptic-XE, Merck). We evaluated latanoprost 0.005% (2.5 ml bottle), brimonidine 0.2%, apraclonidine 0.5%, dorzolamide 2%, timolol solution 0.5% (5 and 10 ml bottles), and timolol gel forming solution 0.5% (5 ml bottle) in 14 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Each patient placed 10 drops onto an analytical scale (one drop every 10 seconds) for all ten preparations. Patients then attempted to instill 10 drops of a tear replacement solution into their ocular cul-de-sac. Medication bottles were weighed before and after patients dispensed from the bottle and then after the bottle was emptied. Weights were converted to volume using the density of the medicine. A statistical difference existed between groups for mean drop volume with latanoprost having the smallest drop volume (.0273 +/- .004 ml) (P<0.005). All manufacturers filled correctly or overfilled their bottles with product and had <10% of medicine wasted. Patients instilled 77.9% of the tear solution correctly. When dosed according to labeling, latanoprost had the lowest cost of therapy at $0.87 daily compared to the other newly released medications (range $1.05 to $1.40). Latanoprost was more expensive, however, than timolol maleate solution or gel (range $0.45 to $0.54 per day). Latanoprost therapy is less expensive per day than dorzolamide, brimonidine or apraclonidine, but more expensive than timolol maleate. Cost per day could be further reduced by limiting medicine wastage upon instillation, however.

Metastatic Crohn's disease: remission induced by mesalamine and prednisone.

We describe a patient with cutaneous Crohn's disease with extensive cutaneous ulcerations preceding the diagnosis of gastrointestinal Crohn's. The cutaneous lesions responded to mesalamine and prednisone. The patient has been maintained on a regimen of mesalamine alone without recurrence. We discuss available forms of mesalamine and their function in cutaneous disease.

The use of latanoprost 0.005% once daily to simplify medical therapy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of latanoprost 0.005% given once daily to simplify a patient's glaucoma medical regimen. METHODS: We reviewed 527 charts of which we included 61 patients (61 eyes) with either ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma who were prescribed latanoprost for the purpose of simplifying their glaucoma medical regimen. The successful substitution of latanoprost was defined as a reduction in the number of dosages given daily with the maintenance of intraocular pressure for at least three months no higher than 2 mmHg from the previous medical regimen. RESULTS: This study showed that 43 of 61 patients (70.4%) had latanoprost substituted allowing for fewer dosages per day. Following the substitution the intraocular pressure in the success group fell from 22.5+/-5.9 mmHg to 18.3+/-3.8 mmHg (p<0.001) over an average follow-up of 6.6+/-1.9 months. The total number of dosages per day in the success group fell from 4.8+/-2.4 to 1.7+/-1.3 at exit (p<0.001). Twenty-two patients had one medicine, 14 patients two, and seven patients three medicines discontinued after latanoprost was added. Reasons for failure after the substitution were ineffectiveness of latanoprost (n=11) or an adverse event (n=7). No trends in the number or types of medicines at baseline discontinued were observed in the success or failure groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that latanoprost 0.005% once daily can be substituted for one or more medicines in the majority of ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma patients to simplify the medical regimen.

The use of latanoprost 0.005% once daily and its effect on intraocular pressure as primary or adjunctive therapy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in efficacy and safety of latanoprost as monotherapy compared to adjunctive therapy in primary open-angle glaucoma. We reviewed records of 527 patients who were treated with latanoprost as mono- or adjunctive therapy to reduce the intraocular pressure. Each patient was treated at least three months unless they were discontinued due to an adverse event or lack of efficacy. In the monotherapy group (n=49) baseline intraocular pressure of 23.6+/-5.2 mm Hg fell to 18.4+/-4.3 mm Hg after 4.4+/-2.0 months of follow-up; in the adjunctive therapy group (n=39) baseline intraocular pressure of 21.8+/-5.7 mm Hg fell to 16.7+/-4.6 mm Hg following 4.3+/-1.8 months of therapy which was a similar change from baseline for both groups (P > 0.9). No differences were noted in the class or number of medicines to which latanoprost could be added including: beta-blockers, alpha-agonists and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. The reasons for failure with monotherapy were mostly adverse events (10/15 patients) and with adjunctive therapy lack of efficacy (14/16 patients). Latanoprost is similarly effective as monotherapy and as an adjunctive agent in reducing the intraocular pressure. Latanoprost can be added successfully to a variety of classes of glaucoma medicines used commonly as adjunctive therapy.

Latanoprost 0.005% and anterior segment uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of latanoprost with anterior chamber uveitis in glaucoma patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 527 charts in latanoprost treated patients with: no prior uveitis (Group 1); prior uveitis but were inactive at the time of the study (Group 2); and active uveitis (Group 3). RESULTS: In Group 1 five (1.0%) of 505 patients developed uveitis after beginning latanoprost. The uveitis was trace to 1+ cell in severity and delayed in onset 99.8+/-73.9 days In Group 2 three of 13 (23.1%) patients developed delayed uveitis (trace to 1+ cell). In Group 3 zero of nine (0%) patients had worsened inflammation and the intraocular pressure remained unchanged (22.8+/-7.8 mmHg to 22.0+/-7.3 mmHg) after beginning latanoprost (p=0.38). CONCLUSION: In patients without a prior history a mild delayed uveitis with latanoprost treatment may develop rarely. In patients with a uveitis history, a mild delayed exacerbation potentially may occur and the intraocular pressure may not be decreased in active uveitis.