Serum lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) was elevated in most cases with the severe type of atopic dermatitis (AD). We examined whether LDH correlated specifically with the clinical courses and the severity of AD skin eruptions. Blood eosinophil numbers (Eo), LDH and its isoenzymes, and serum IgE (IgE) levels in eighty patients with AD were measured before and after treatment. In improved groups, Eo and LDH decreased or returned to normal values after treatment. In contrast, both levels increased in patients who worsened after treatment. Thus changes in Eo and LDH correlated well with the clinical picture. However, IgE levels did not correlate with the clinical condition. High LDH levels were detected in the severe type of AD more frequently than in the mild type. A large majority of patients with elevated LDH (higher than 300 IU/l) before treatment had more severe skin eruptions. When the LDH before treatment was within normal limits, the LDH levels in improved patients showed a further decrease. Eo, LDH and IgE were correlated closely with the clinical scores of AD, and the relationship between LDH and clinical score was the highest. Elevations of LDH5 and LDH4 among the LDH isoenzymes were more prominent in the severe type of AD than in the mild type. We concluded that LDH was useful as a marker for evaluating the disease condition and severity of skin eruption of AD.

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Timolol maleate (TM), a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, is widely used for canine antiglaucoma eye drops; however, its bioavailability is <5%. Our previous study revealed that magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (nMH) have potency in improving the bioavailability of fixed-combined TM in rodent models. This study aimed to investigate whether the fixed combination with nMH improves the ocular hypotensive effect of TM and affects pupil size (PS), heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in clinically healthy dogs. Five clinically healthy dogs were administered topical saline, commercial 0.5% TM, and a 0.01% or 0.1% nMH–0.5% TM fixed combination (0.01% or 0.1% nMH–TM) twice daily in one eye for 7 days with at least a 28-day interval. The changes from baseline were calculated and were statistically analyzed for each drug. IOP was significantly reduced in both 0.01% and 0.1% nMH–TM-treated-dogs compared with saline- and TM-treated dogs. Meanwhile, 0.01% and 0.1% nMH did not exacerbate the side effects of TM. From these results, nMH improved the ocular hypotensive effect of TM without enhancing side effects. Topical nMH–TM is potentially more effective for canine ocular hypotensive eye drops than TM.

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