DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Efficacy of topical cyclosporine 0.05% for prevention of cornea transplant rejection episodes.

Author(s): Price MO, Price FW Jr

Affiliation(s): Cornea Research Foundation of America, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260, USA. mprice@cornea.org

Publication date & source: 2006-10, Ophthalmology., 113(10):1785-90. Epub 2006 Aug 1.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of immunologic corneal graft rejection episodes in a prospective case series of patients treated 4 times a day with topical cyclosporine 0.05%. DESIGN: Prospective, single-center, institutional review board-approved study. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-two cornea transplant recipients considered low risk for graft rejection. METHODS: Primary indications for transplantation were keratoconus, Fuchs' dystrophy, or nonherpetic, nonvascularized scars. Subjects completely tapered off prednisolone acetate 1% by 13 weeks after transplantation and used topical cyclosporine 0.05% 4 times a day, beginning either 1 or 10 weeks posttransplant, with use continued until 1 year posttransplant. One subgroup supplemented cyclosporine use with pulsed prednisolone acetate 1% dosing, 4 times a day for 4 days every 6 weeks. The incidence of immunologic corneal graft rejection episodes was compared with that in Fuchs' and keratoconus historical control subjects, who used topical steroids a median of 7 months after penetrating keratoplasty. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of immunologic graft rejection episodes. RESULTS: Graft rejection episodes occurred earlier and with higher incidence in subjects using cyclosporine 0.05% compared with historical control subjects who used steroids for a longer period of time (P<0.0001). Cyclosporine subjects who pulse-dosed prednisolone had a significantly higher incidence of graft rejection compared with those who did not pulse steroids (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 4 times daily dosing with topical cyclosporine 0.05% is not as effective as use of topical prednisolone acetate 1% for prevention of graft rejection episodes in low-risk corneal transplants, and that periodic pulsing with corticosteroids may increase the risk of rejection episodes.

Page last updated: 2006-11-04

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017