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PubMed2006

Allergic conjunctivitis in children with asthma, rhinitis and eczema in a secondary outpatient clinic.

Little evidence is available on the prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in pediatric populations. The objective of this study was to assess the cumulative prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis, asthma and eczema in a secondary pediatric outpatient clinic. Children aged 5-15 yr referred during the period of 2002-2004 in whom allergic conjunctivitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema was diagnosed were included in a retrospective survey. At referral patient characteristics, history, symptoms, signs and results of type 1 allergy tests were entered into an electronic form. Four hundred and fifty-eight children with a mean age of 9.4 yr were studied. Of 316, 324 and 149 children with rhinitis, asthma or eczema, respectively, 133 (42%), 78 (24%) and 45 (30%) had concomitant allergic conjunctivitis. One hundred and thirty-seven (30%) had allergic conjunctivitis, of whom 133 (97%) also had allergic rhinitis, 77 (56%) asthma and 45 (33%) eczema. One hundred and twenty-five (91%) of the children with allergic conjunctivitis had positive allergy tests to one or more allergens, sensitization to house dust mites being more frequent in chronic allergic conjunctivitis than in acute allergic conjunctivitis (95% vs. 53%; p < 0.01). Sensitization to grass was more frequent in children with acute allergic conjunctivitis (78% vs. 57%; p = 0.03). In a secondary pediatric outpatient clinic allergic conjunctivitis is a frequent co-morbidity to allergic rhinitis and to asthma and eczema. Allergic conjunctivitis need to be included as an important co-morbidity in future guidelines on asthma, rhinitis and eczema management.

Allergens↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation of ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% ophthalmic solution for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

We evaluated 148 patients with allergic conjunctivitis in a double-masked, paired comparison clinical trial comparing ketorolac 0.5% ophthalmic solution with vehicle. Patients received one drop of each study medication in preassigned eyes, four times a day, for seven days. Both treatments showed significant changes from baseline in the signs and symptoms associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Evaluations at the final visit (day 7 or 8) showed that ketorolac-treated eyes had a significant treatment response when compared to vehicle-treated eyes for conjunctival inflammation (p = 0.010), ocular itching (p = 0.006), swollen eyes (p = 0.002), discharge/tearing (p = 0.021), foreign body sensation (p = 0.035), and conjunctival injection (p = 0.016). Mean scores evaluating the overall therapeutic effect of the study treatments at the completion of the study were higher for ketorolac-treated eyes than for vehicle-treated eyes as rated by investigators (p = 0.004) and study patients (p < 0.001). Results of this study confirmed the trends of a previous study showing that ketorolac 0.5% ophthalmic solution applied topically is an effective therapy for allergic conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Measurement of IL-4 in tears of patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

To elucidate the mechanism of ocular surface allergic disease, we focused on IL-4, which is one of the key factors in regulating IgE production, and thus determined the concentration of IL-4 in tears. IL-4 concentration was determined in the tears of 15 patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, 15 vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), 10 giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), 10 patients with non-allergic conjunctivitis and post-cataract surgical conjunctivitis as intermediate conjunctivitis, and 10 normal subjects using a highly sensitive sandwich ELISA. The mean level of IL-4 in normal controls was low, and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, VKC and GPC showed a significant elevation (P < 0.05), respectively. IL-4 of VKC and GPC were also significantly higher than allergic conjunctivitis, and non-allergic conjunctivitis and post-cataract surgical conjunctivitis were not higher than normal. These results raise the possibility that the increased level of IL-4 in tears could play a role in allergic disease and its severity in patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye.

AIMS: Differential diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis or dry eye is sometimes very difficult to diagnose by symptoms and clinical examination alone, especially in older patients. It was hypothesised that clinically allergic patients who were serum antigen specific IgE negative were candidates for dry eye. METHODS: Sixty patients were studied prospectively who were clinically diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis by their itchy sensation and papilla formation of conjunctiva. They consisted of 30 serum antigen specific IgE positive and 30 IgE negative patients, with no significant differences in age. Dry eye examination and serum total IgE were performed on these two groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between the two groups with regard to age (p = 0.76) and sex ratio. The antibody negative group had lower Schirmer's test scores (p = 0.002), lower tear clearance (p = 0.0001), lower tear function index (p = 0.0001), and lower serum total IgE (p = 0.04) than the antibody positive group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the evaluation of serum antigen specific IgE and tear dynamics are important for the differential diagnosis of patients with allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye. Clinically diagnosed allergic conjunctivitis with negative serum antigen specific and total IgE can be one form of dry eye.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Allergic conjunctivitis: diagnosis and treatment].

Allergic conjunctivitis are the most frequent presentation of ocular allergy. They concern two specialists, ophthalmologists and allergists, who must establish a close collaboration, to succeed in an etiological diagnosis and consequent efficacious treatment. On one hand the history of allergy must be deep and on the other a simple pollen etiology giving simple functional signs: skin tests (pricks or epicutaneous) after a flawless questioning, at need completed by the measurement of specific and total IgE titres in the tears and even sometimes by a conjunctival provocation test, minimal other ophthalmological examination, researching anomalies in the tear level and signs of cellular suffering (Break-up time: time of rupture of the tear film). The differential diagnosis falls into the field of the ophthalmologist: traumatic or infectious conjunctivitis (herpes), vernal kerato-conjunctivitis for acute conjunctivitis; dry eye, viral conjunctivitis, anomalies of convergence for the most frequent signs of chronic conjunctivitis. The treatments are symptomatic to relieve the patient, eye lotions without preservatives for long term treatment and etiological that include allergen avoidance, without forgetting specific desensitisation (mites, pollens) that may need a rigorous indication.

Anti-Allergic Agents↗

PubMed2004

[Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in Hakodate].

PURPOSE: We investigated seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in Hakodate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 293 patients with allergy-like symptoms who were seen at the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology of Hakodate Municipal Hospital in 2001 and 2002 were examined for pollinosis, and evaluated. The general severity of conjunctivitis was graded as (+), (++), and (+++). The allergen was identified by AlaSTAT and nasal provocation test. RESULTS: In March, June, and September 2001, and in March, April, and June 2002, many patients were examined. In 2001, 134 patients (87.0%) had allergic conjunctivitis, and 126 patients (90.6%) had it in 2002. The severity of allergic conjunctivitis in May, June, and September was significantly (p<0.05) more severe than in February, March, and April. The major antigen rates for Cryptomeria japonica, Gramineae, Artemisia, and Betula platyphyia var. japonica were 22, 21, 8, and 3%. The specific IgE positive rates for Cryptomeria japonica, Betula platyphyia var. japonica, Gramineae and Artemisia were higher in March and April, in May, in June, and in September. CONCLUSION: The allergens of conjunctivitis in Hakodate were not the same as in the Kansai. We should consider the dispersion of pollens area by area.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group comparison of olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution versus placebo for controlling the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and rhinoconjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND: The most common form of allergic ocular disease is seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, coinciding with the pollen season and generally associated with rhinitis. Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include ocular itching, hyperemia, tearing, mucus production, foreign body sensation, chemosis, and lid edema. Similarly, the primary symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis are nasal itching, irritation, sneezing, watery rhinorrhea, and congestion combined with ocular itching, tearing, and swelling. OBJECTIVE: This study compared olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution with placebo eyedrops (over-the-counter artificial tear product), instilled in the eye, with regard to the prevention and relief of the ocular and nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study, conducted at 7 US centers, to instill either olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution or placebo eyedrops (artificial tears) in both eyes twice daily for 10 weeks. Patients were evaluated for efficacy (intent-to-treat) and safety. Only patients with proven grass pollen allergy (dermal and conjunctival allergen challenge tests) were selected; all patients were studied during the same period, historically shown to be grass season; and grass pollen counts were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients (64 olopatadine; 67 placebo) were assessed for efficacy (intent-to-treat); 132 patients were assessed for safety. The mean (SD) age of participants was 38.53 (11.61) years (range, 18 to 87 years), and 58.0% were women (76/131), with no significant differences between groups for age or sex. In the olopatadine group, 1.6% of patients were black (1/64), compared with 14.9% of the placebo group (10/67) (P = 0.005). Mean scores of ocular itching and hyperemia were lower at all assessment times with olopatadine than placebo. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) for itching on days 7, 14, 35, 63, and 70, and for hyperemia on days 14, 28, 42, and 63, after correction for multiplicity. Linear regression slopes predicting ocular itching and hyperemia from the pollen count were significantly lower (P < 0.003 and P < 0.035, respectively) with olopatadine than with placebo. Similar results were obtained for rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching (P < 0.006, P < 0.012, and P < 0.034, respectively). With placebo, the proportion of patients with frequent ocular itching and hyperemia increased as a function of pollen level; however, with olopatadine, the proportions remained low and virtually constant. CONCLUSION: In the population studied, olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution controlled ocular and nasal symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinocojunctivitis and was well tolerated when administered twice daily for 10 weeks.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Flow cytometry tear analysis in patients with chronic allergic conjunctivitis.

Tears from patients with chronic allergic conjunctivitis were analyzed with flow cytometry to determine the function of the T lymphocyte-related immunological reactions in the disease pathogenesis. Twenty-eight patients and 22 normal volunteers were studied; tears were obtained with capillary tubes. T helper/T suppressor ratios and the percentages of HLA DR+, CD23+, and CD3+ cells were significantly higher in patients than in controls. This study provides support for the hypothesis that chronic allergic conjunctivitis results from T lymphocyte-related immunological reactions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: overview and treatment update.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is rarely associated with permanent vision impairment; however, it is a relatively common condition that may compromise the quality of life. It may, in extreme cases, impair daily activities, including work. Numerous treatment options have become available for the relief of acute symptoms. Avoidance should always be the first line in therapy but, in most cases, is not practical, especially with pollen allergies. The use of saline eyedrops is simple and nontoxic, and it is effective in up to 30% to 35% of cases. It can and should be added to all other remedies to reduce adverse effects and cost by decreasing the need for other therapeutic options. Antihistamines and decongestants are useful treatment choices for the majority of cases. Ketorolac tromethamine may be helpful in relieving pruritus, but it offers little advantage over topical antihistamines. Corticosteroids may be used for severe cases for a limited time. If topical corticosteroids are being considered, an ophthalmologist should be consulted. Cromolyn sodium and lodoxamide ophthalmic solution may be helpful in the prophylaxis of symptoms during the allergy season, but these agents require frequent dosing. Olopatadine hydrochloride is a mast cell stabilizer and antihistamine that can be dosed twice a day. Immunotherapy is effective and should be offered to those who are intolerant or have allergic conjunctivitis refractory to medications.

Conjunctivitis, Allergic↗

PubMed2005

Role of interferon-gamma in a mouse model of allergic conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To characterize the effect of repeated topical exposure to allergen in a mouse model of allergic conjunctivitis and to determine the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the pathogenesis of allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: Wild-type BALB/c mice and IFN-gamma knockout (KO) BALB/c mice were sensitized in the footpad with short ragweed (SRW) allergen and challenged topically for seven consecutive days with SRW allergen. The number of splenic CD4(+) Th2 cells was determined by flow cytometry, and the cytokine profile of CD4(+) T cells from SRW-sensitized mice was evaluated by ELISA. The role of IFN-gamma in allergic conjunctivitis was also examined by timed in vivo neutralization with anti-IFN-gamma antibody. Allergic conjunctivitis was evaluated clinically and histopathologically. RESULTS: Repeated topical challenge with SRW allergen induced allergic conjunctivitis that was characterized by lid edema, chemosis, redness, and tearing. Histopathological analysis revealed a marked conjunctival infiltrate that was predominantly neutrophils and eosinophils. IFN-gamma KO mice and normal mice treated with anti-IFN-gamma antibody displayed milder clinical symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and a 70% reduction in the number of eosinophils that infiltrated the conjunctiva. Spleen cells from SRW-sensitized mice contained a large population of cells that expressed the Th2 surface marker T1/ST2 and produced IL-4, -5, and -10 and IFN-gamma after stimulation with SRW allergen. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated topical application of SRW allergen induces a form of murine allergic conjunctivitis that mimics the human counterpart. IFN-gamma appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of murine allergic conjunctivitis at the effector phase, but not during the initial sensitization stage.

Allergens↗

PubMed2005

Allergic conjunctivitis: update on pathophysiology and prospects for future treatment.

Allergic conjunctivitis is in actuality a group of diseases affecting the ocular surface and is usually associated with type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. Two acute disorders, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and perennial allergic conjunctivitis, exist, as do 3 chronic diseases, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis. The ocular surface inflammation (usually mast cell driven) results in itching, tearing, lid and conjunctival edema-redness, and photophobia during the acute phase and can lead to a classic late-phase response (with associated eosinophilia and neutrophilia) in a subset of individuals. As is the case in other allergic diseases, a chronic disease can also develop, accompanied by remodeling of the ocular surface tissues. In severe cases the patient experiences extreme discomfort and sustains damage to the ocular surface. For such cases, there is no highly effective and safe treatment regimen. Topical administration of corticosteroids is used in severe cases but is associated with an increased risk for the development of cataracts and glaucoma. Thus there is a worldwide search for new biotargets for the treatment of these diseases. Here we provide a brief update of the clinical symptoms associated with these diseases, the rationale for disease classification, recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of the diseases, and an update on both preclinical and clinical advances toward refined therapies for these diseases.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1992

Drug treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. A review of the evidence.

Allergic conjunctivitis, unlike several other ocular diseases, is seldom followed by permanent visual impairment; nevertheless, it is important because of both its frequency and its severity. Two major forms, seasonal and perennial, are considered in this review. To recognise the hallmarks of allergic conjunctivitis, clinicians have need of a thorough knowledge of its pathophysiological aspects and clinical features, enabling them to choose the best and most suitable therapy among the alternatives. The aims of treatment vary according to the symptoms, severity and characteristics of the allergic reactions; in general, treatment is based mainly on environmental control, pharmacotherapy and (sometimes) specific immunotherapy. Topical vasoconstrictors, decongestant compounds, standard antihistamines or combinations of these drugs have been used for a number of years to treat the acute and/or persistent symptomatology, and in order to prevent the side effects of a prolonged treatment with topical glucocorticosteroids. Nevertheless, the latter represent the most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, and are particularly recommended in short term treatment (5 to 7 days) in severe acute symptomatology. Orally administered 'classic' antihistamines, i.e. histamine H1-receptor antagonists, are effective and very convenient in either short or long term treatment, largely because the new compounds also act on the inflammatory process secondary to the allergic events. Recently, other topical compounds such as sodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sodium), nedocromil and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [i.e. piroxicam, aspirin] have become available. Sodium cromoglycate and nedocromil act as prophylactic compounds, able to prevent the allergic reaction; NSAIDs represent a valid and effective alternative to glucocorticosteroids in several situations.

Conjunctivitis, Allergic↗

PubMed1996

Measurement of interleukin-4 and histamine in superficial cells of conjunctiva in patients with allergic conjunctivitis.

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) may play a role in the development of allergic disease. We questioned whether IL-4 related phenomenon occurred on the surface of the conjunctiva during allergic conjunctivitis. Ten patients with cedar pollen-allergic conjunctivitis and 10 patients with postsurgical conjunctivitis were enrolled in this study. Cells were collected by brush cytology from the upper palpebral conjunctiva. After the cells were cultured for 24 hours, the levels of IL-4, IgE, and histamine were measured in the supernatants. An ELISA was used for histamine and a highly sensitive sandwich ELISA for IL-4 and IgE. Conjunctival cells were also stained and fixed by May-Grunwalds stain solution. The number of superficial cells, especially lymphocytes, were compared in the two groups. The total number of cells collected by brush cytology did not differ in allergic vs., postsurgical conjunctivitis. Lymphocytes were similarly present in such specimens. The levels of IL-4 (p = 0.01) and histamine (p = 0.02) significantly increased in the specimens from patients with allergic conjunctivitis, although IgE was not detected in both groups. There was a correlation between the level of IL-4 and histamine (p = 0.0001). Conjunctival cells in allergic conjunctivitis produced a larger amount of IL-4 and histamine for cedar pollen compared to the postsurgical conjunctivitis. As with other allergic diseases, IL-4 may play a role similar to that of histamine in the development of allergic conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Allergic conjunctivitis caused by sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) pollen out of season.

Allergic conjunctivitis caused by sugi pollen is considered to be strictly a "spring disease". However, a recent report indicated that sugi pollen is scattered not only in spring but in all seasons, especially in the autumn. We retrospectively determined the number of patients with allergic conjunctivitis caused by sugi pollen during each month for 3 consecutive years, and also investigated the growth of sugi male cones in November for four years. Diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis was based on symptomatic complaints, clinical findings, and serum sugi pollen specific IgE measured by the Multiple Antigen Simultaneous Test 16. The annual incidence of allergic conjunctivitis peaked twice, once in spring and again in autumn. Scattering of sugi pollen occurred mostly in March and October, whilst the growth of sugi male cones was highest in November. Thus, allergy to sugi pollen can cause allergic conjunctivitis both in the spring and late autumn.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Apafant, a potent platelet-activating factor antagonist, blocks eosinophil activation and is effective in the chronic phase of experimental allergic conjunctivitis in guinea pigs.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) plays important roles in allergic reactions. In particular, there are many concerns about PAF, eosinophils, and the chronicity of allergic diseases. The purpose of the present studies is to elucidate the role of PAF in eosinophil activation at conjunctiva and to confirm the efficacy of Apafant (a potent PAF antagonist) ophthalmic solution in chronic experimental allergic conjunctivitis. Guinea pigs were actively immunized and allergic conjunctivitis was induced by repetitive instillation of 2.5% ovalbumin. PAF solution was topically applied and eosinophil activation was assessed by measuring the eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity in the tear fluid. Itch-scratching episodes and clinical symptoms scores were evaluated in the repetitive challenge conjunctivitis. From the instillation of PAF solution into guinea pig eyes, which were in a state of chronic allergic conjunctivitis, a significant increase in EPO activity was observed, and this increase was inhibited by pre-treatment with Apafant. In the repetitive challenge model, the animals treated with Apafant ophthalmic solution showed a significant reduction of clinical symptoms and the itch-scratch response in both the first and the second challenges. PAF has an activity, that induces mediator release from eosinophils in the conjunctival tissues and may be involved in the chronic phase of allergic conjunctivitis.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2003

Multiple cedar pollen challenge diminishes involvement of histamine in allergic conjunctivitis of Guinea pigs.

It has been reported that antihistamines do not fully modify symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in clinical settings, suggesting that histamine is not the only contributor to symptom generation in the disease. However, in the majority of experimental allergic conjunctivitis models, antihistamines are very effective in the reduction of symptoms. In the present study, we used our recently developed guinea pig model of allergic conjunctivitis and evaluated whether involvement of histamine in the induction of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis is altered by multiple antigen challenges. Guinea pigs were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of Japanese cedar pollen extracts adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide gel, and then challenged by dropping a pollen suspension without the adjuvant on each eye once a week until the 15th challenge. The magnitude of the conjunctivitis intensity score (CIS), itch-associated scratching response and albumin leakage were found to increase with repeated challenges. At the 1st-3rd challenges, histamine H(1) receptor antagonist, mepyramine (10 mg/kg, p.o.), strongly reduced all these symptoms. However, symptoms at the 5th-15th challenges were not inhibited by mepyramine. On the other hand, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 mg/kg, i.v.), potently inhibited the increase of CIS and albumin leakage at the 15th challenge. In conclusion, histamine involvement in the induction of conjunctivitis symptoms in our model was diminished by multiple antigen challenges. The allergic conjunctivitis at the chronic stage is partly mediated by nitric oxide (NO) derived from NOSs that may be activated by mediators other than histamine. The histamine-independent allergic conjunctivitis may be useful for analyzing mechanisms underlying chronic conjunctivitis.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1993

[An epidemiological study of allergic conjunctivitis].

An epidemiological study focusing on the home environment and lifestyle was conducted in order to analyze the differences between a group of patients with allergic conjunctivitis only and a group with other allergic diseases associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Subjects were five hundred and sixty-four patients who visited the Ophthalmologic Clinic of Tokai University Hospital during 1990, and for controls 200 households were randomly selected from an elementary school list in Yokohama city. RAST score was measured in 102 patients. A mailed questionnaire was sent to 240 patients chosen at random and to 200 controls. Sixty patients and 139 controls responded to the questionnaire. RAST score showed no statistical difference between patients with allergic conjunctivitis only and patients with other allergic diseases associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Analysis of associations between RAST score and seasonal symptoms, showed very strong positive reactions to pollens in patients with seasonal symptoms. On the other hand, in patients with constant symptoms during the year, reaction was very strong to house dust and mite. Epidemiological factors causally associated with allergic conjunctivitis were compared among the controls, patients with allergic conjunctivitis only (Group I), patients with other allergic diseases (Group II) and all patients (Group III). Compared to controls, Groups II and III had significantly higher prevalence of past history of skin itching and inflammatory symptoms (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Group II subjects showed more frequent use of carpets, when compared to the controls (p < 0.05). The use of Japanese mattress (futon) was more frequent in Group II and III than controls (p < 0.05 for both comparisons).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Efficacy of mequitazine in comparison with placebo assessed by ocular challenge with allergen in allergic conjunctivitis.

Pharmacologic intervention in the management of allergic conjunctivitis was evaluated with different topical ocular agents in man. Their effect can be precisely assessed with the conjunctival provocation test (CPT). A potent specific H1-receptor antagonist, 0.05% mequitazine eye-drops, was tested in a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study using CPT with grass pollen allergens. Twenty healthy subjects allergic to grass pollen were included outside the pollen season after a positive CPT screening. They received one drop of 0.05% mequitazine in one eye and the vehicle in the contralateral eye in a random order, four times daily for 5 days. CPT was performed 15 min after the last instillation, and the threshold dose inducing a positive reaction was determined. Results were given by Abelson's composite score including redness, chemosis, tearing, and itching. Topical 0.05% mequitazine significantly reduced the composite score compared to placebo. The allergen threshold concentration which induced the positive conjunctival reaction was higher in mequitazine pretreated eyes. No side-effect was reported. These data clearly suggest that mequitazine has potential to treat allergic conjunctivitis.

Adult↗