Intraocular pressure response to topical epinephrine and HLA-B12.

Twenty high responders to topical corticosteroids (intraocular pressure greater than 31 mm Hg after six weeks of topical 0.1% dexamethasone, four times daily) and 20 low responders (IOP less than 20 mm Hg) of similar age, sex, race, initial IOP, and facility of outflow were selected. After 24 hours of treatment (two doses) of topical 1% epinephrine hydrochloride, the high corticosteroid responders showed a mean (+/-SD) corrected decrease in IOP of 3.6 +/- 2.0 mm Hg as opposed to 1.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg in the low corticosteroid responders. Within both corticosteroid groups, individuals with the antigen HLA-B12 showed significantly greater decreases in IOP. This suggested that the presence of HLA-B12 was not only associated with increased responses to corticosteroids but also to epinephrine.