[The cellular players in allergy]

[Intra-annual and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis treatment: comparison of two therapeutic protocols]

INTRODUCTION

Allergic conjunctivitis is the most common form of conjunctivitis encountered in daily ophthalmological practice. Its therapy can be problematic: it must be simple, free of complications, and adaptable to everyday life.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a randomized prospective single-center survey on 102 patients between 4 and 80 years of age who presented moderate allergic conjunctivitis. Patients were divided into two groups, one treated in monotherapy with N-acetyl-aspartyl glutamic acid (NAAGA) over 4 weeks and the other treated with bi-therapy (NAAGA and Levocabastine during the first week and NAAGA only for the next 3 weeks), with evaluation of the sum of the scores of the cardinal signs of allergic conjunctivitis at D0, D7 and D28.

RESULTS

The two populations were homogeneous at inclusion: the majority of the patients had a history of allergies, with a nonspecific disrupted allergy workup (IgE and eosinophils) and a higher initial score for the children included in the study. The scores decreased sharply at D7 (50% reduction) and at D28 (bordering 1) with no significant difference between the two groups. Tolerance to the treatment judged by unusual sensations upon instillation was better for the NAAGA treatment (80.8% of the cases). Clinical and functional signs disappeared without recourse to corticoids.

CONCLUSION

In the moderate forms of seasonal and intra-annual allergic conjunctivitis, NAAGA treatment alone is sufficient. The association with Levocabastine is necessary only in cases of highly bothersome functional signs. The use of corticoids should be reserved for the serious forms.