The effectiveness of latanoprost for the treatment of pediatric glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Latanoprost is a prostaglandin F2alpha analogue that substantially reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The efficacy and safety of latanoprost in children is unknown. We wished to evaluate latanoprost therapy for children with glaucoma. METHODS: This was a prospective study of all patients who were given latanoprost at our institution between September 1996 and January 1998. The baseline IOP was compared with the postlatanoprost IOP for each patient, and side effects and any iris color change were noted at each follow-up examination. Responders were defined as those who had at least a 15% IOP reduction on latanoprost, whereas nonresponders showed less than a 15% IOP reduction on latanoprost. RESULTS: Fifty-seven eyes of 48 pediatric patients with a variety of glaucoma diagnoses and an average age of 7.1 years were included in the study. Of these, 31 eyes of 31 patients had interpretable IOP data; the mean IOP reduction for this group after the addition of latanoprostwas 0.9% (0.2 mm Hg). Six patients (6 eyes) were responders, with an average IOP reduction of 8.5 mm Hg (34%), whereas the majority of patients (25) were nonresponders. In the responders, there was a good correlation (r = 0.9) between baseline IOP and the magnitude of IOP reduction. Responders were significantly more likely to have juvenile open-angle glaucoma and to be older than nonresponders. Systemic and ocular side effects were infrequent and mild, and no patient had noticeable iris color changes. CONCLUSIONS: When used in a group of pediatric patients with a variety of glaucoma diagnoses and on various therapies, latanoprost is effective in only a minority of cases. In selected patients, however, latanoprost shows an impressive ocular hypotensive effect, comparable with that obtained when this drug is used in adults with open-angle glaucoma. This drug appears to be well tolerated in this short-term study of pediatric patients with glaucoma.

Duke Scholars

Author Sharon Fridovich Freedman Ophthalmology

Author Edward George Buckley Ophthalmology

Author Laura Barlow Enyedi Ophthalmology