The effect of ketotifen on inflammatory markers in allergic conjunctivitis: an open, uncontrolled study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The efficacy and safety of ketotifen eye drop treatment in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) management is perfectly known by several studies, but the mechanism of action at the biochemical levels is poorly understood so we decided to perform an open, uncontrolled study in order to investigate the effect of the topical administration of ketotifen fumarate 0.05% on biochemical markers of inflammation on conjunctival cells in patients with AC.

METHODS:

Nineteen patients with symptoms and signs of AC (itching, discharge, burning, redness, increase in the watery discharge, swelling and follicles) and with a history of allergy were prescribed with two daily instillation of one drop of eyewash ketotifen fumarate 0,05% in both eyes during thirty days. They were studied by measuring clinical and immunologic parameters.

RESULTS:

Ketotifen fumarate treatment significantly reduced the total symptoms and signs score for each patient as well as each symptoms and signs at all time points compared with day 0 (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.016, respectively). Although the percentage of HLA-DR+ epithelial cells diminished only in 58% of patients, the numbers of CD29+ and eotaxin+ epithelial cells dropped significantly in 68% and 73 % of them (p < 0.0062 and <0.0082, respectively) as a consequence of the treatment. In 9 out of 19 patients a simultaneous decrease in the percentage of epithelial cells positive for CD29 and eotaxin was observed.

CONCLUSION:

Ketotifen besides the well-known effect in reducing signs and symptoms of AC significantly diminished production of eotaxin and expression of CD29 by epithelial cells in patients with seasonal AC.

• Authors: Andrea P Martín, Julio Urrets-Zavalia, Alejandro Berra, Ana Lía Mariani, Norberto Gallino, Eduardo Gomez Demel, Julio Gagliardi, Carlos E Baena-Cagnani, Enrique Urrets-Zavalia, Horacio M Serra
• Journal: BMC ophthalmology (BMC Ophthalmol) Vol. 3 Pg. 2 (Jan 06 2003) ISSN: 1471-2415 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 12515585 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• CCL11 protein, human
• Chemokine CCL11
• Chemokines, CC
• Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil
• HLA-DR Antigens
• Histamine H1 Antagonists
• Integrin beta1
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Ketotifen

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Chemokine CCL11
• Chemokines, CC (metabolism)
• Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil (metabolism)
• Child
• Conjunctiva (drug effects, metabolism)
• Conjunctivitis, Allergic (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Epithelial Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Female
• HLA-DR Antigens (metabolism)
• Histamine H1 Antagonists (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Integrin beta1 (metabolism)
• Ketotifen (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ophthalmic Solutions