Glauline (metipranolol) induced uveitis and increase in intraocular pressure

Pharmacologically induced uveitis

Treatments of numerous systemic and local diseases of different etiologies may be accompanied by an unwanted side effect in the form of uveitis. We inform readers about medications that have the potential to cause uveitis and analyze the strength of association of these medications with uveitis. Subsequently, cessation of medication or appropriate treatment can be individualized for each patient for the purpose of preventing further damage to tissue structure and function. Being aware of these associations, physicians may readily identify medications that may cause uveitis and avoid expensive and unnecessary clinical and laboratory testing.

A review on ocular findings in mouse lemurs: potential links to age and genetic background

Mouse lemurs, the world's smallest primates, inhabit forests in Madagascar. They are nocturnal, arboreal and dependent on vision for their everyday lives. In the last decades, the grey mouse lemur became increasingly important for biomedical research, in particular aging research. Experiments which require the combination of visual fitness and old age consequently depend on a solid knowledge of ocular pathologies. Although ocular diseases in mouse lemurs have been described as being common, they have not received much attention so far. Yet it is important to know when and why ocular diseases in captive mouse lemurs may occur. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of known ocular findings in mouse lemurs. It summarizes the frequency of ocular findings in captive mouse lemur colonies and points to their likely causes and treatment options based on the evidence available from other animals and humans. In addition, it shall be discussed whether age or genetic background may affect their development. This review may be used as a reference for future studies which require an assessment of visual performance in mouse lemurs and help to evaluate observed clinical signs and ocular diseases. Furthermore, the high incidence of specific diseases may provide new perspectives and set the groundwork for a new animal model for ocular research.

Drug-induced uveitis

A number of medications have been associated with uveitis. This review highlights both well-established and recently reported systemic, topical, intraocular, and vaccine-associated causes of drug-induced uveitis, and assigns a quantitative score to each medication based upon criteria originally described by Naranjo and associates.

Intraocular pressure changes: an important determinant of the biocompatibility of intravitreous implants

BACKGROUND

In recent years, research efforts exploring the possibility of using biomaterial nanoparticles for intravitreous drug delivery has increased significantly. However, little is known about the effect of material properties on intravitreous tissue responses.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

To find the answer, nanoparticles made of hyaluronic acid (HA), poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA), polystyrene (PS), and Poly N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAM) were tested using intravitreous rabbit implantation model. Shortly after implantation, we found that most of the implants accumulated in the trabecular meshwork area followed by clearance from the vitreous. Interestingly, substantial reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) was observed in eyes implanted with particles made of PS, PNIPAM and PLLA, but not HA nanoparticles and buffered salt solution control. On the other hand, based on histology, we found that the particle implantation had no influence on cornea, iris and even retina. Surprisingly, substantial CD11b+ inflammatory cells were found to accumulate in the trabecular meshwork area in some animals. In addition, there was a good relationship between recruited CD11b+ cells and IOP reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the results reveal the potential influence of nanoparticle material properties on IOP reduction and inflammatory responses in trabecular meshwork. Such interactions may be critical for the development of future ocular nanodevices with improved safety and perhaps efficacy.

Antiglaucoma medications: a review of safety and tolerability issues related to their use

BACKGROUND

Much experience has been gained with the use of older classes of antiglaucoma agents--topical beta-adrenergic-receptor antagonists, nonselective adrenergic-receptor agonists, oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and cholinergic agents. In the past decade, new drugs and classes of drugs used to treat glaucoma have become available, including topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, prostaglandin analogues, and alpha2-adrenergic-receptor agonists. Extensive community-based use of antiglaucoma medications has led to an increased understanding of the acute and long-term safety and tolerability issues associated with their use.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reviews the side effects associated with the various classes of topical antiglaucoma drugs, with a particular focus on long-term safety issues.

Drug-induced uveitis

Uveitis has been reported in association with a variety of topical, intraocular, periocular, and systemic medications. To establish causality of adverse events by drugs, in 1981, Naranjo and associates proposed seven criteria, which are related to the frequency and documentation of the event; circumstances of occurrence, recovery, and recurrence; and coexistence of other factors or medications. Rarely does a drug meet all seven criteria. The authors review reports of drug-associated uveitis, applying the seven criteria and examining possible mechanisms. Only systemically administered biphosphonates and, perhaps, topical metipranolol meet all seven criteria. Systemic sulfonamides, rifabutin, and topical glucocorticoids fulfill at least five criteria.

Drug-induced uveitis. Incidence, prevention and treatment

Drug-induced uveitis is a relatively rare occurrence. For example, the patient database at the tertiary referral Uveitis Clinic at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University records an incidence of less than 0.5%. Despite this, the frequency of uveitis secondary to rifabutin therapy in AIDS patients has brought greater recognition to the potential role of medications as a cause of intraocular inflammation. A brief review of uveitis including its classification, causes, symptoms and signs is presented along with a review of systemic medications associated with uveitis. These medications include cidofovir, cobalt, diethylcarbamazepine, pamidronic acid (disodium pamidronate), interleukin-3 and interleukin-6, oral contraceptives, quinidine, rifabutin, streptokinase and sulfonamides. Other systemic medications may cause uveitis. Topical ocular medications such as beta-blockers and corticosteroids as well as other topical ocular medications have been associated with uveitis. Cidofovir, pamidronic acid, sulfonamides, rifabutin and topical metipranolol can 'probably' cause uveitis. The remainder of the medications discussed have a 'possible' cause-and-effect relationship with uveitis. Treatment begins with recognition of a drug-related event and usually subsequent avoidance of the drug. Therapy depends on the severity and likelihood of the reaction. Drug-induced uveitis is almost always reversible within weeks of discontinuation of the drug and treatment of the inflammation.

Metipranolol-associated nongranulomatous anterior uveitis

PURPOSE

To describe the findings in a patient with a nongranulomatous anterior uveitis, presumed to be induced by metipranolol.

METHOD

A 69-year-old woman developed bilateral, nongranulomatous, anterior uveitis while undergoing treatment with metipranolol 0.3% for primary open-angle glaucoma. Four months after resolution of the initial episode, the patient was challenged with metipranolol 0.3% in the right eye.

RESULT

On reinstituting metipranolol 0.3%, the patient once again developed a unilateral, nongranulomatous, anterior uveitis in the challenged eye.

CONCLUSION

Metipranolol 0.3% eyedrops, used to treat primary open-angle glaucoma, appear to cause a nongranulomatous anterior uveitis.

Metipranolol-associated granulomatous iritis

PURPOSE

Topical metipranolol therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma has been associated with anterior granulomatous uveitis in the United Kingdom. We studied granulomatous uveitis reactions to topical metipranolol 0.3% therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma in two patients in the United States.

METHODS

Two patients, aged 71 and 81 years, were given topical metipranolol 0.3% therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma.

RESULTS

Both developed granulomatous uveitis. The iritis was associated with an increase in intraocular pressure in both patients and resolved on discontinuation of the drug. One patient was inadvertently rechallenged with metipranolol, and the iritis recurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical metipranolol 0.3% therapy may be associated with the development of granulomatous uveitis and a paradoxical increase in intraocular pressure.

Metipranolol-induced adverse reactions: II. Loss of intraocular pressure control

This paper reviews the behaviour of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucomatous eyes treated with metipranolol with and without drug-induced adverse reactions (ADRs). Two hundred and forty seven patients with open angle glaucoma who were receiving the three different strengths of metipranolol (0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.6%) in our Department and the 7 patients who participated in the metipranolol rechallenge trial were included in this study. Out of the 247 patients, there were 52 eyes of 29 patients who showed 78 episodes of ADRs associated with metipranolol. Forty five of these 78 episodes (57.6%) were associated with loss of IOP control. Two of the 7 eyes treated with metipranolol in the rechallenge trial showed loss of IOP control, 1 of them without any signs of ocular inflammation. We further studied all the glaucomatous eyes controlled with metipranolol 0.6% only and 22 eyes were identified with loss of IOP control but without recognisable signs or symptoms of ADR. Five other eyes in this group later developed metipranolol-induced ADRs. The possible pathophysiological mechanisms for the loss of IOP control are discussed and it is suggested that the active drug, metipranolol, could be directly implicated.