Comparative efficacy of topically applied flurbiprofen, diclofenac, tolmetin, and suprofen for the treatment of experimentally induced blood-aqueous barrier disruption in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the relative efficacies of 4 topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at preventing blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) disruption in dogs.

DESIGN

1 eye of each dog was treated with 1% suspensions of diclofenac, flurbiprofen, suprofen, or tolmetin, or with control solution. After 4 applications of eyedrops at 10-minute intervals, BAB disruption was induced in the treated eye by anterior chamber paracentesis. The severity of BAB disruption was measured by anterior chamber fluorophotometry.

ANIMALS

40 ocular-normal dogs.

PROCEDURE

After pretreatment with eyedrops, rapid 100-microliters nonleaking anterior chamber paracentesis was performed in 1 eye of each dog to induce BAB disruption. 1 day after paracentesis, 1 ml of 10% fluorescein sodium was injected i.v.. The amount of fluorescein entering the anterior chamber of each eye was measured 30 to 60 minutes later by use of a computerized scanning fluorophotometer. The degree of BAB disruption was determined by comparing the amount of fluorescein entering the aqueous humor of the paracentesed eye with that of the nonparacentesed eye.

RESULTS

At postparacentesis day 1, the order of statistically significant BAB-stabilizing efficacy among groups was: diclofenac > flurbiprofen > suprofen > tolmetin = control solution.

CONCLUSIONS

Topically applied 1% suspensions of diclofenac, flurbiprofen, and suprofen are effective at preventing BAB disruption after paracentesis in dogs, indicating their potential usefulness for treatment of prostaglandin-mediated ocular disease. 1% tolmetin is no more effective than control solution.