Rebamipide eyedrops are approved in Japan for the treatment of
dry eye disease. Some patients with allergic
conjunctival diseases also manifest
dry eye. Earlier we reported that
rebamipide suppressed polyI:C-induced inflammatory
cytokines in human conjunctival epithelial cells. In the current study we examined the effect of
rebamipide eyedrops on the level of
interleukin-8 (IL-8),
eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and total
IgE on the ocular surface. We prescribed
rebamipide eyedrops to patients with atopic
keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) who presented with
dry eye (6 eyes in 4 AKC patients) and measured the
IL-8, ECP, and total
IgE levels in their tears before- and 2, and 4-6 weeks after the start of
rebamipide treatment. To measure the
IL-8 and total
IgE levels in their tears we used BD™ CBA Flex sets; ECP measurements were with ELISA. The level of
IL-8, ECP, and total
IgE in the tears of AKC patients was reduced significantly 4-6 weeks after the start of
rebamipide treatment. We also recorded subjective symptoms associated with AKC, e.g.
itching,
foreign body sensation, and eye mucus discharge, by using a patient questionnaire. Their subjective symptoms associated with AKC were also significantly ameliorated at 2 and 4-6 weeks. Our observations suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of
rebamipide eyedrops help to combat human ocular surface
inflammation and that they may be a new effective
therapy in patients with AKC.