DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



A randomized trial of brimonidine versus timolol in preserving visual function: results from the Low-Pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study.

Author(s): Krupin T, Liebmann JM, Greenfield DS, Ritch R, Gardiner S

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and the Chicago Center for Vision Research, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. krupin@northwestern.edu

Publication date & source: 2011-04, Am J Ophthalmol., 151(4):671-81. Epub 2011 Jan 22.

Publication type: Comparative Study; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PURPOSE: To compare the alpha2-adrenergic agonist brimonidine tartrate 0.2% to the beta-adrenergic antagonist timolol maleate 0.5% in preserving visual function in low-pressure glaucoma. DESIGN: Randomized, double-masked, multicenter clinical trial. METHODS: Exclusion criteria included untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mm Hg, visual field mean deviation worse than -16 decibels, or contraindications to study medications. Both eyes received twice-daily monotherapy randomized in blocks of 7 (4 brimonidine to 3 timolol). Standard automated perimetry and tonometry were performed at 4-month intervals. Main outcome measure was field progression in either eye, defined as the same 3 or more points with a negative slope >/=-1 dB/year at P<5%, on 3 consecutive tests, assessed by pointwise linear regression. Secondary outcome measures were progression based on glaucoma change probability maps (GCPM) of pattern deviation and the 3-omitting method for pointwise linear regression. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were randomized to brimonidine and 79 to timolol. Mean (+/- SE) months of follow-up for all patients was 30.0 +/- 2. Statistically fewer brimonidine-treated patients (9, 9.1%) had visual field progression by pointwise linear regression than timolol-treated patients (31, 39.2%, log-rank 12.4, P=.001). Mean treated IOP was similar for brimonidine- and timolol-treated patients at all time points. More brimonidine-treated (28, 28.3%) than timolol-treated (9, 11.4%) patients discontinued study participation because of drug-related adverse events (P=.008). Similar differences in progression were observed when analyzed by GCPM and the 3-omitting method. CONCLUSION: Low-pressure glaucoma patients treated with brimonidine 0.2% who do not develop ocular allergy are less likely to have field progression than patients treated with timolol 0.5%. Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Page last updated: 2011-12-09

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017