Abstract
Purpose :
To assess the efficacy and safety of switching from prostaglandin analogue(PGA)-monotherapy to tafluprost/timolol fixed-combination (Taf/Tim).
Methods :
A prospective, open-label study was conducted. Adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) or ocular hypertension who had been receiving PGA-monotherapy for three months or more and requiring further intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction were enrolled. Taf/Tim was substituted for PGAs without washout. The patients underwent examinations at 1, 2, and 3 months after changing therapies. Subsequently, the treatments were returned to the original PGA-monotherapy and the patients underwent another examination at 1-2 months after changing therapies. The parameters examined were IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal epithelial damage, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate in addition to routine ophthalmic examination. We performed medical questionnaire survey at 1 and 3 months after switching to Taf/Tim.
Results :
Of 40 patients enrolled, 25 patients completed the study at this moment were subject to the analysis. The demographics of enrolled patients at the entry were mean age of 63.3±11.6 years, 5 NTG patients and 20 POAG patients. 23 patients received latanoprost monotherapy and 2 patients received travoprost monotherapy. Switching to Taf/Tim significantly reduced IOP from 17.7±2.4mmHg at the entry to 15.0±2.4mmHg at 1 month, 15.1±2.6mmHg at 2 months, and 14.9±2.2mmHg at 3 months ( P<0.001). Switch-back to the original PGAs returned IOP to level of the entry. Taf/Tim tended to reduces systolic blood pressure and pulse rate, but significant difference in diastolic blood pressure, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal adverse events were not observed. 2 patients showed adverse events, and 1 patient discontinued the study due to chest pain.
Conclusions :
Taf/Tim fixed combination showed a significantly superior potential of IOP reduction than PGA-monotherapy without exerting severe ophthalmic and systemic adverse events.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.