Clinic effectiveness of ketotifen fumarate in the allergic conjunctivitis treatment

Abstract

For type I allergic conjunctivitis treatment there are many pharmacologically substances divided in groups according to their activity in vasoconstrictors, antihistamines, mastocyte membrane stabilizers and anti-inflammatory. This study used Ketotifen fumarate at 0.025%, which blocks the histamine receptors, stabilizes the mastocyte membrane and suppresses the activation of the eosinophil by cytokines. <em><strong>Objective:</strong></em> The aim of this study was to determine clinically the effectiveness of the Ketotifen fumarate at 0.025% in the allergic conjunctivitis treatment. Materials and <em><strong>Methods:</strong></em> 46 patients with clinical diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis, verified by the lacrytest, were treated with Ketotifen fumarate at 0.025% (Zaditen), one drop every 12 hours, during one month, after that period they were clinically assessed and the lacrytest was carried out again. <em><strong>Results:</strong></em> After the treatment with Zaditen the intensity of the ocular signs and symptoms (papillas, hyperemia, mucous secretion, edema, ardor, red eye and itching) diminished significantly as well as the levels of IgE in tear (p<0,05) although this substance has no direct action on the secretion of immunoglobulin. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that beside the control of allergic conjunctivitis symptoms, the Ketotifen fumarate in a concentration of 0.025% diminished significantly the IgE levels in tear after a month of treatment. It is possible that the control of the inflammatory mediators in the conjunctiva, where the change of class can be done to IgE, had some effect to diminish the secretion of it by the (Linfocites B).