Efficacy and safety of the combination therapy Pilogel®/β-blocker: Interim results

Abstract

The interim results of a multicentered clinical trial with the combination therapy therapy Pilogel/topical beta-blocker (twice daily) in patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension are discussed. Six patients were treated with Pilogel and a topical beta-blocker for one month. Four out of six patients responded well to the combination therapy. Most patients experienced some difficulty in applying the gel and their eyelids stuck together on awakening. In two patients a superficial punctate keratitis was observed. We found an average decrease in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) of 22.5% 22.5 hours after Pilogel administration, but there was some tendency towards higher evening values compared to morning values. In view of the appearance of a corneal haze as described by Johnson et al. during long-term treatment, longer follow-up is necessary.

Long-term treatment with Pilogel/β-blocker in glaucoma patients

“…We report the results of a multicentretrial in which we wanted to establish the 24 hours efficacy and safety of the combination therapy Pilogel (once daily)/topical [3-blocker (twice daily). The interim results of our study were published previously [9].…”

“…The superficial punctate keratitis observed by us in 6 out of thirteen patients was found by Johnson and associates in 44% (26 out of 59) of patients during the first weeks of gel use. In our cases it hardly produced symptoms and cleared spontaneously while continuing gel treatment [9]. Although our material is small and our observation time relatively short we did not observe the asymptomatic corneal haze described by Johnson, which occurred in 20% of his patients (15 out of 53) [5,9].…”

“…In our cases it hardly produced symptoms and cleared spontaneously while continuing gel treatment [9]. Although our material is small and our observation time relatively short we did not observe the asymptomatic corneal haze described by Johnson, which occurred in 20% of his patients (15 out of 53) [5,9]. Nine of the 15 patients developing the corneal haze had previously experienced the transient superficial punctate keratitis, although the keratitis had resolved at least three months before onset of the haze.…”