A clinicopathological analysis of the efficacy of lodoxamide 0.1% eye drops on the conjunctiva of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis seen at Guinness Eye Centre, Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

To ascertain the efficacy of Lodoxamide 0.1 in the reduction of Clinicopathological signs of the conjunctiva in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis. Prospective, non-comparative, Convenient Interventional Case Series. One Hundred consecutive patients; 57 males and 43 females within age range 2-55 years diagnosed with active and untreated Vernal conjunctivitis were enrolled. Approval was obtained from Ethical committee of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba, Lagos. Patients were given a bottle of Lodoxamide 0.1 each to instill four times daily into both eyes. Pre-treatment Clinical photographs and conjunctival biopsies were taken in 15 volunteered patients. Ocular signs and symptoms were evaluated on day 1 (baseline), days 2-3 (Interim) and then weekly for 6 weeks (final). Post treatment Clinical photographs and conjunctival biopsies were done at the 6th week. The conjunctival tissues were fixed for 24 hours in 10 Neutral buffered formalin prior to paraffin wax embedding and routinely stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stains. Primary outcome was based on the reduction of inflammatory cells especially the eosinophils on histological micrographs. Secondary efficacy was based on the rate and extent of reduction of the severity scores of the clinical signs and symptoms. Lodoxamide 0.1 ophthalmic solution significantly reduced the density of the inflammatory cells especially eosinophils in the post treatment conjunctival biopsy cytology specimen. The mean physician severity scores for signs and symptoms consistently reduced from 72 hours of commencement of Lodoxamide with remarkable improvement in a week and complete resolution of all parameters at the end of 5th week. Lodoxamide 0.1 ophthalmic solution is highly effective in alleviating the clinical signs and symptoms of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis and its antiallergic activity is exerted by inhibiting migration of inflammatory cells mainly eosinophlis.