Randomised Double-Masked Trial of Lodoxamide and Sodium Cromoglycate in Allergic Eye Disease

Abstract

135 patients were entered into a 28-day randomized double-masked multicentre study comparing the efficacy and short-term safety of lodoxamide 0.1% ophthalmic solution (Alomide--Alcon Laboratories), a mast cell stabilizer, with sodium cromoglycate 2% ophthalmic solution (Opticrom--Fisons Pharmaceuticals) in the treatment of allergic eye disease. Patients given lodoxamide 0.1% showed a significantly more rapid and greater improvement in their signs and symptoms of allergic eye disease than patients given sodium cromoglycate 2%. Both treatments were found to be safe, and side-effect profiles were comparable between the two treatment groups, although the overall incidence of side-effects in this study was found to be less frequent in the lodoxamide-treated group.

The management of ocular allergy in community pharmacies in the United Kingdom

“…Interestingly, none of the pharmacies recommended lodoxamide trometamine 0.1%, a mast cell stabiliser which produces a greater and faster clinical improvement in ocular allergy than sodium cromoglycate 2% 9 . The second most common treatment was topical witch hazel (hamamelis virginiana), a plant extract with purported astringent properties.…”

Inhibitory Effects of Lodoxamide on Eosinophil Activation

“…In the present work, we have investigated the effect of a drug clinically efficient for the treatment of conjunctivitis, lodoxamide [7, 8], on eosinophil chemoattraction and on the release of three granule proteins, EPO, ECP and EDN by human eosinophils (fig. %1M1–3%0M).…”

“…Drugs employed in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis are generally classified as anti-inflammatory compounds, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers [7]. Lodoxamide, a mast cell stabilizer, interfering with calcium flux during activation of mast cells, has been successfully used for the treatment of allergic and chronic conjunctivitis [7, 8].…”

“…Lodoxamide, a mast cell stabilizer, interfering with calcium flux during activation of mast cells, has been successfully used for the treatment of allergic and chronic conjunctivitis [7, 8]. Whereas lodoxamide was shown to inhibit mast-cell-induced release of mediators of hypersensitivity in vitro, clinical improvement has been demonstrated to correlate with the resolution of Trantas dots/spots, clusters of eosinophils and epithelial cell debris located at the limbus [7, 8]. In a recent study, a reduction in eosinophil numbers, associated with a decrease in mast cell tryptase levels, has been observed in the tears of patients treated with lodoxamide [9].…”

Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

“…This group of patients will usually be controllable with mast cell stabilisers and ocular lubricants without the necessity for any more aggressive therapy. Mast cell stabilisers include Sodium Cromoglycate, Lodoxamide (7) and Nedocromil (8). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories may also be helpful (9).…”