Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the inhibitory effect of difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion (DFBA) in rabbits with postoperative inflammation prepared by anterior chamber paracentesis, and to compare the effect of DFBA 0.05% with betamethasone sodium phosphate solution (BM) 0.1% in this model.
Methods::
Fifty male Dutch rabbits weighing 1.85-2.36 kg were randomly assigned into receive 1 of 5 treatments: DFBA 0.002% DFBA 0.01%, DFBA 0.05%, BM 0.1%, or physiological saline. 50 µL of each agent was instilled into the left eye of the rabbits using a micropipette, respectively. 4 hours after instillation, aqueous humor was removed by anterior chamber paracentesis under local anesthesia in order to induce inflammation. Before the paracentesis and at 30, 60, 120, and 190 min after the paracentesis, leakage of protein was measured with a laser flare cell meter, and a flare count in the anterior chamber was used as an indicator for inflammation. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated from the time course of the flare value.
Results::
AUC in the saline group was 44680.1 ± 17430.5 (photon count / msec × min [flare count·min], Mean ± S.D.), and the AUC of the flare value for the DFBA 0.002%, DFBA 0.01%, and DFBA 0.05% groups was 30996.0 ± 15408.8, 22665.9 ± 14293.9, and 12597.9 ± 7276.9 (flare count·min), respectively. DFBA concentrations ≥0.01% inhibited the inflammation with a statistically significant difference compared with saline by Dunnett’s test. AUC in the BM 0.1% group was 14631.8 ± 10420.1 (flare count·min), and a statistically significant difference was noted in the inhibitory effect on the inflammation compared with the saline group. The DFBA 0.05% group elicited an equivalent inhibitory effect on inflammation as BM 0.1%.
Conclusions::
DFBA with a concentration ≥0.01% showed inhibitory effect in rabbits with postoperative inflammation prepared by anterior chamber paracentesis. The strongest effect of DFBA was obtained with the 0.05% concentration, which had an inhibition effect comparable to that of BM.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • corticosteroids • drug toxicity/drug effects