A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled parallel study of 0.2% loteprednol etabonate in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND

Loteprednol etabonate is a site-active corticosteroid with efficacy and safety in treating ocular inflammation at the 0.5% concentration. Evidence from dose-response studies suggested that the 0.2% concentration might be effective in treating ocular allergy.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 0.2% loteprednol etabonate in reducing the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

METHODS

This was a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-group multicenter study. Patients with signs and symptoms of environmental seasonal allergic conjunctivitis received either loteprednol etabonate or placebo bilaterally four times daily for 42 days.

RESULTS

Enrolled were 133 patients (66 receiving loteprednol etahonate; 67 receiving placebo). A reduction in severity was seen in both loteprednol etabonate and placebo groups for bulbar conjunctival injection (1.3 vs 0.9 units on a 0 to 3 scale) and itching (3.5 vs 3.1 units on a 0 to 4 scale) over the first 2 weeks. The treatment effect was -0.5 and -0.6 units in favor of loteprednol etabonate (P < .001). Resolution (the proportion of patients with the sign or symptom no longer present) at visit 4 (day 14) strongly favored loteprednol etabonate-treated patients over placebo-treated patients (31% and 9%, and 54% and 38%, for injection and itching, respectively). Both treatments were well tolerated. No patients in either treatment group (0 for loteprednol etabonate and 0 for vehicle) had an elevation of intraocular pressure of 10 mm Hg or greater during the 6 weeks of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Loteprenol etabonate (0.2%) was more effective than placebo in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Loteprednol etabonate (0.2%) had a safety profile comparable to placebo during this 6-week trial.