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Biomedical subjects

Pasquale Aragona

Publications and source records attributed to Pasquale Aragona.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Is it safe to use topical NSAIDs for corneal sensitivity in Sjögren's syndrome patients?

Sjögren's syndrome dry eye is an inflammatory disease accompanied by an impairment of the autonomous nervous system of the ocular surface. The therapy for this condition is shifting from the mere tear replacement to a more complex approach including an anti-inflammatory treatment. Clinical trials have evidenced that the use of NSAIDs is followed by a reduction of the ocular discomfort symptoms in dry-eye patients. However, sporadic case reports of corneal melting in dry-eye subjects who underwent surgical procedures has brought attention to the possible effect that NSAIDs may have on corneal sensitivity. Therefore, the effect of NSAID treatment on corneal sensitivity in normal subjects and in patients with dry eye was studied. The results of these trials seem to demonstrate that some NSAIDs, diclofenac in particular, have the effect of reducing corneal sensitivity both in normal subjects and in patients with dry eye. Therefore, NSAIDs should be used with caution in Sjögren's syndrome patients.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2005

Systemic omega-6 essential fatty acid treatment and pge1 tear content in Sjögren's syndrome patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of oral omega-6 essential fatty acids on PGE(1) tear content and signs and symptoms of ocular discomfort in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: This randomized, double-masked, controlled, clinical trial involved 40 patients with primary SS, divided into two groups: group 1: 20 patients (18 women, 2 men; mean age, 36.9 +/- 7.9 years [SD]) treated for 1 month with linoleic acid (LA; 112 mg), and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA; 15 mg) administered twice daily; group 2: 20 patients (19 women, 1 man; mean age, 36.3 +/- 5.5 years) treated twice daily with placebo. Patients underwent three examinations: at baseline (T0), after 1 month of treatment (T1), and 15 days after suspension of treatment (T2). At each examination, the following tests were performed: tear sampling (2 microL) from the inferior meniscus, tear break-up time (BUT), fluorescein stain of the ocular surface, and tear basal secretion. A symptom score was also obtained at each examination. PGE1 was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. The primary efficacy variable was PGE1 content of tears. RESULTS: The tear PGE1 levels were significantly increased in group 1 at T1 versus T0 (PGE1 level: T0, 44 +/- 5.4 ng/mL; T1, 58.3 +/- 5.5 ng/mL; P < 0.01 versus T0 and group 2 at T1). At examination T2, a statistically significant reduction of PGE1 levels toward baseline was observed (45.7 +/- 5.2 ng/mL; P < 0.01 versus T1). A statistically significant reduction of symptom score was observed in group 1 at examination T1 (P < 0.01 versus T0 and group 2 score). At examination T2, the symptom score was significantly higher than T1 but remained lower than T0. The corneal fluorescein stain in group 1 showed a statistically significant improvement at examination T1 versus T0 and group 2 (P < 0.01). This improvement was also present at T2 (P < 0.02). No statistically significant differences were found for the other tests. No statistically significant changes were observed in the patients in group 2 at all examination time points. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-6 administration increases the PGE1 levels in tears of patients with SS and improves ocular surface signs and symptoms of ocular discomfort.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis with topical netilmicin.

PURPOSE: This study compares the clinical and microbiologic value of topical netilmicin with that of gentamicin in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, prospective, controlled study was performed in 209 patients. One to two drop(s) of either antibiotic was applied to the affected eye(s) four times a day for up to 10 days. Patients were examined at the time of diagnosis and after 3, 5, and 10 days. Clinical efficacy was measured as the cumulative sum score (CSS) of the key signs and symptoms of acute bacterial ocular infection. Sensitivity/resistance was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. RESULTS: Drug efficacy assessment was restricted only to patients with positive baseline culture results (n = 121). Of the isolated organisms, 96.9% were sensitive to netilmicin, whereas only 75.0% were sensitive to gentamicin (p = 0.00001). Netilmicin provided a broad-spectrum coverage comparable with that of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin. Netilmicin also was more effective than gentamicin in eradicating infections (p = 0.001 at day 5 and p = 0.037 at day 10) and in ameliorating the CSS (p = 0.037 at day 3, p = 0.001 at both day 5 and day 10). Only minor adverse events occurred in patients treated with either netilmicin or gentamicin. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that netilmicin is a safe and effective antibiotic that can be used as first-line therapy for the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Long term treatment with sodium hyaluronate-containing artificial tears reduces ocular surface damage in patients with dry eye.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have reported that sodium hyaluronate is able to improve both symptoms and signs in patients with dry eye but none have demonstrated an improvement of conjunctival epithelial cell abnormalities of the ocular surface. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of sodium hyaluronate-containing eye drops on the ocular surface of patients with dry eye during long term treatment. METHODS: A randomised double blind study was undertaken in 86 patients with medium to severe dry eye (that is, rose bengal and/or fluorescein test score of at least 3, tear film break up time <10 seconds, or Schirmer's test <5.5 mm). Patients were treated with either preservative-free sodium hyaluronate or saline for 3 months at a dose of one drop 4-8 times a day. Bulbar impression cytology, slit lamp examinations, and subjective symptoms were evaluated after 1, 2, and 3 months. Impression cytology was considered the primary efficacy parameter of the study. RESULTS: The efficacy analysis was performed on a total of 44 patients who were able to fully adhere to the protocol. After 3 months of treatment sodium hyaluronate improved impression cytology score (p = 0.024 v baseline). At the same time also the difference with respect to placebo was statistically significant (p = 0.036). Study medication was well tolerated and no treatment related adverse events occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium hyaluronate may effectively improve ocular surface damage associated with dry eye syndrome.

Adult↗