Efficacy and Safety of Chronic Blepharitis Treatment

Abstract

Purpose: to evaluate the netilmicin efficacy and safety in chronic blepharitis treatment. Methods: 30 posterior or mixed chronic blepharitis (CB), meibomian gland dysfunctions (MGD) and dry eye (DE) patients were examined. All patients received 0.3 % netilmicin (Nettacin; instillations, 3 times a day) and 0.3 % netilmicin (Nettavisk; applications, at night) for 14 days. Evaluated: integral indicator of СB subjective symptoms (II-SS, scores); integral indicator of CB objective signs (II-OS, scores); OSDI (scores); tear film brake up time (TBUT, s); lower tear meniscus height (LTMH, µm; OptoVue); Bijsterveld`s xerosis index (XI, scores); Korb`s MGD severity (MGD-S, scores). Control points: 1 — when included in the study, 2 — 15 days of observation. The criteria for the therapy effectiveness included the II-OS and II-SS positive dynamics, and the safety criteria included the absence of significant negative dynamics of OSDI, TBUT, LTMH, XI, MGD-S. Statistics: M ± s calculation, Wilcoxon t-test (differences were considered significant at p < 0.05). Results. At the 2nd control point, there was a statistically significant decrease in II-SS (from 3.62 ± 0.49 to 2.47 ± 0.50) and II-OS (from 3.58 ± 0.50 to 2.45 ± 0,50). Also, at the 2nd control point, a significant decrease in OSDI was recorded (from 35.40 ± 3.59 to 26.40 ± 3.06) and insignificant trend towards a decrease in LTMH (from 325.10 ± 21.26 to 319.80 ± 41 26), an increase in XI (from 5.10 ± 0.40 to 5.23 ± 0.50), an increase in TBUT (from 5.47 ± 0.57 to 5.63 ± 0.56) and a decrease in MGD-S (from 2.16 ± 0.38 to 1.97 ± 0.18). Conclusion. As a result of the use of 0.3 % netilmicin, a significant decrease in the severity of CB symptoms and signs was noted, which indicates a good clinical effectiveness of the therapeutic effect. At the same time, the absence of significant negative dynamics of indicators characterizing the state of the ocular surface (OSDI, TBUT, LTMH, XI, MGD-S) during therapy indicates the safety of using 0.3 % netilmicin for the CB treatment in conditions of comorbidity, including MGD and DE.