Clinical experience with latanoprost: a retrospective study of 153 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pressure-reducing effect of latanoprost in a clinical setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 153 consecutive patients with open angle glaucoma receiving latanoprost were recorded at baseline (n=153), 2 weeks (n=151) and 8 to 12 months (n=89) after starting latanoprost treatment. In 82 patients (54%) latanoprost was added to ongoing treatment. Two patients terminated treatment because of side effects before the first follow-up examination.
RESULTS: 56% (84/151) of the patients showed an intraocular pressure reduction of 20% or more after 2 weeks, regardless of baseline therapy. The difference between intraocular pressure before (24.4+/-5.8 mm Hg) and after 2 weeks of latanoprost treatment (19.9+/-6.9 mm Hg) in the total group (n=151) was highly significant (p<0.0001). The pressure reduction was significantly correlated with the pretreatment intraocular pressure level (r=0.48, p<0.0001). In the 89 patients who could be followed for 8 to 12 months no significant upward drift in mean intraocular pressure was observed, but in fourteen patients intraocular pressure increased with 5 mm Hg or more. Thirteen patients reported side effects, five of these discontinued the treatment.
CONCLUSION: Latanoprost is obviously an efficient pressure reducing drug which can be used in glaucoma patients as an adjunct to any ongoing therapy with the expectation of clinically relevant intraocular pressure reduction in 45-71% of the patients.