The Glaucoma Italian Pediatric Study (GIPSy): 3-Year Results

Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome in the pediatric population: A review

Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) is a rare autosomal-dominant neurocristopathy that presents with a variety of classical ocular and systemic findings. The pathophysiology of the disease involves anterior segment dysgenesis, and patients may present with ophthalmic complications early in life, including secondary glaucoma, high refractive errors, amblyopia, and permanent visual damage. There are a limited number of studies in the literature that focus primarily on pediatric patients with ARS. The purpose of this article was to review the current literature on clinical presentation, genetic associations, diagnosis, secondary complications, and treatment of ARS in pediatric patients. Evaluating the essential clinical aspects of the disease in children may allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment and prevent visual morbidity from amblyopia and secondary glaucoma that may result in permanent visual damage.

Aniridic glaucoma: An update

Aniridia is a congenital bilateral ocular disorder with dominant autosomal inheritance. More than 50% of patients will develop aniridic glaucoma (AG) during their lives. Open angle glaucoma is more common in aniridia, but a closed angle mechanism has been described in relation with anterior rotation of the rudimentary iris, occluding trabecular meshwork. Diagnosis and follow-up of AG is difficult in relation with the presence of keratopathy, nystagmus and foveal hypoplasia. Central corneal thickness usually measures more than 600 microns, which prevents achieving a reliable value of intraocular pressure. Medical treatment of AG is no different from the rest of glaucoma. It is recommended to use preservative free formulations, and combined therapy is often required. Surgical treatment is needed in many cases. There is no consensus on the first line surgery for AG, but in open angle AG, angle surgery is usually first choice, and glaucoma drainage devices are the next preferred surgical technique. In closed angle AG glaucoma drainage devices are usually the first choice, with trabeculectomy as the second preferred surgical technique.

A new look at the safety and tolerability of prostaglandin analogue eyedrops in glaucoma and ocular hypertension

INTRODUCTION

In the last 25 years, topical prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) have emerged to become first line and first choice therapeutic options in the management of glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT). Although the short-term efficacy and safety of PGAs has been extensively investigated, less is known about their long term safety and tolerability. This gap in current knowledge is clinically relevant, because treatment-related adverse events and long-term tolerability issues are key determinants of the overall success of long-term therapy and the final outcome of a lifelong, symptomless disease like glaucoma.

AREAS COVERED

We include selected evidence pertaining to the safety and tolerability of available and emerging PGA formulations. We also outline PGA formulations with different concentrations of the active ingredient, different preservatives, and preservative-free (PF) options.

EXPERT OPINION

Undoubtedly PGAs will continue to play a major role in the medical therapy of glaucoma and OHT. Despite extensive literature and prolonged clinical experience with these agents worldwide, a number of areas that warrant further research have been identified in the present review. Recently launched novel PGAs, or those still in development offer new opportunities and future challenges.

Aniridic glaucoma: An update

Aniridia is a congenital bilateral ocular disorder with dominant autosomal inheritance. More than 50% of patients will develop aniridic glaucoma (AG) during their lives. Open angle glaucoma is more common in aniridia, but a closed angle mechanism has been described in relation with anterior rotation of the rudimentary iris, occluding trabecular meshwork. Diagnosis and follow-up of AG is difficult in relation with the presence of keratopathy, nystagmus and foveal hypoplasia. Central corneal thickness usually measures more than 600 microns, which prevents achieving a reliable value of intraocular pressure. Medical treatment of AG is not different from the rest of glaucoma. It is recommended to use preservative free formulations, and combined therapy is often required. Surgical treatment is needed in many cases. There is no consensus on the first line surgery for AG, but in open angle AG, angle surgery is usually first choice, and glaucoma drainage devices are the next preferred surgical technique. In closed angle AG glaucoma drainage devices are usually the first choice, with trabeculectomy as the second preferred surgical technique.

The Glaucoma Italian Pediatric Study (GIPSy): The Long-term Effect of Topical Latanoprost on Central Corneal Thickness

PRECIS

Central corneal thickness (CCT) may increase over time in children affected by primary congenital glaucoma and treated with latanoprost for at least 30 months.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate CCT modification over time in a population of primary pediatric glaucoma (PPG) patients prescribed a monotherapy of latanoprost.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present paper reports the results of a post hoc analysis on patients enrolled in the Glaucoma Italian Pediatric Study (GIPSy). Children affected by PPG, with a postsurgical intraocular pressure between 22 and 26 mm Hg and treated with latanoprost monotherapy for at least 30 months were eligible for the analysis. CCT variation from baseline was investigated over the follow-up using univariable and multivariable longitudinal linear mixed models. The impact of age, sex, and intraocular pressure on CCT variation were evaluated taking into account the interaction of each variable with time.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven eyes (20 patients) were included in the analysis. Mean duration of latanoprost treatment was 36.6 months (SD 2.5) and mean CCT at baseline was 551 μm (SD 37.7). A significant increase of CCT over time was revealed by multivariable analysis, taking into account the impact of age at baseline and its interaction with time (P=0.03). The interaction between age and time was significant (P=0.04), indicating that older age at baseline was associated with lower increase of CCT over time. No variation of CCT was found in univariable analysis (P=0.28).

CONCLUSION

In this population of PPG patients treated with latanoprost for at least 30 months, CCT significantly increased over time, when the impact of age and its interaction with time were considered.

Prostaglandin-Associated Periorbitopathy in Children and Young Adults with Glaucoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate for relative palpebral and orbital changes after long-term unilateral exposure to prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in patients with childhood glaucoma.

DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 29 patients with history of childhood glaucoma, who were treated unilaterally with PGAs for at least 12 months.

METHODS

Based on 4 standardized clinical photographs (en face with eyes open, right and left side views with eyes open, and en face with eyes closed), 3 masked expert graders each independently selected the eye they perceived to have received unilateral PGA treatment by physical appearance alone and graded the following features relative to the other eye: (1) ocular (e.g., conjunctival hyperemia, iris heterochromia, and buphthalmos), (2) palpebral (e.g., eyelash trichomegaly, eyelash hypertrichosis, eyelid erythema, eyelid edema, eyelid hyperpigmentation, high upper eyelid crease, upper eyelid ptosis, upper and/or lower eyelid retraction, and eyelid skin atrophy with presence of telangiectasias), and (3) periorbital (e.g., superior sulcus hollowing, proptosis, enophthalmos, hypoglobus, and hyperglobus). An interrater reliability analysis was performed using the Fleiss kappa (κ) statistic to determine consistency among raters.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Frequencies of each feature of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy (PAP); group consensus; interrater reliability of selected PGA-treatment laterality.

RESULTS

Median unilateral PGA exposure time was 31.7 months (interquartile range: 18.8-44.3 months). Eyelash trichomegaly and hypertrichosis (n = 22, 76%), high upper eyelid crease (n = 20, 69%), upper eyelid ptosis (n = 14, 52%), and superior sulcus hollowing (n = 15, 52%) were the most frequently observed features of PAP in PGA-treated eyes compared with untreated fellow eyes. Most of these changes were mild, but 20% to 30% of patients exhibited moderate eyelash and/or eyelid changes. One patient had severe PAP after long-term unilateral PGA exposure. Group consensus with correctly selected laterality was achieved in all patients. The inter-rater reliability was excellent (κ = 0.815, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [0.605, 1.000]).

CONCLUSIONS

Mild-to-moderate changes in the ocular adnexa can develop in children and young adults with long-term PGA exposure. Patients and their families should be educated on the possibility of PAP, especially when initiating monocular PGA therapy.

Medical management of pediatric glaucoma: lessons learned from randomized clinical trials

PURPOSE

To critically discuss the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on glaucoma medical therapy for the management of pediatric glaucoma.

METHODS

RCTs on glaucoma drugs carried out on pediatric subjects with ocular hypertension and glaucoma were identified through systematic searches. The methods of the RCTs and the safety and the efficacy of the glaucoma drugs were reviewed and discussed.

RESULTS

We included five RCTs. One study compared dorzolamide with 0.5% timolol gel; one brinzolamide with 0.5% levobetaxolol; one 0.25% betaxolol, 0.25% timolol gel, and 0.5% timolol gel; one latanoprost with 0.5% timolol; and one travoprost with 0.5% timolol. The primary outcome was safety for two studies and efficacy for three studies. None of the RCTs was powered to detect statistically significant differences in intraocular pressure (IOP) between treatments. In total, 658 subjects received at least one dose of study medication. Beta-blockers were administered to 359 patients, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) to 154, and prostaglandins to 145 patients. IOP-lowering efficacy ranged from 20 to 23% for CAI, from 9 to 36% for beta-blockers, and from 26 to 27% for prostaglandins. The percentage of responders was 50% for CAI, ranged from 38 to 74% for beta-blockers and from 60 to 83% for prostaglandins. Two patients receiving timolol experienced a systemic, drug-related serious adverse event (one patient bradycardia and one pneumonia). Systemic, nonserious drug-related events occurred in 15 patients randomized to beta-blockers and in 8 patients randomized to CAI. No adverse events occurred in children treated with prostaglandins.

CONCLUSION

RCTs that are available on medical therapy for glaucoma are few and underpowered. The proportion of responders is lower in children; however, in subjects who are responders, the efficacy of glaucoma drugs seemed to be comparable to that in adults. As systemic adverse events have been reported, including serious events with timolol, a particular attempt to minimize the absorption of the drug (using the lowest dose and the gel formulation of beta-blockers or considering the lacrimal punctum occlusion) and a follow-up that is more frequent and more focused on safety should be considered in pediatric subjects who are on topical glaucoma medications.