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Epinastine effectively treated cedar pollen allergic conjunctivitis

Epinastine was safe and effective in treating adults with cedar pollen allergic conjunctivitis compared with placebo and olopatadine, according to recent Japanese study results.

“Although the estimated prevalence of allergic conjunctival disease is approximately 15% to 20%, increasing numbers of patients are developing cedar pollinosis, and the disease is a major public health problem in Japan,” the researchers wrote, with ocular itching affecting patients’ quality of life.

The researchers conducted a conjunctival allergen challenge tests on asymptomatic adult volunteers with a history of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and cedar pollen-specific IgE during seven visits. Eighty-seven adults were randomly assigned to three groups to evaluate epinastine 0.05% ophthalmic solution compared with placebo ophthalmic solution during their fourth, fifth and sixth visits, while 86 adults were randomly assigned to two groups to study epinastine vs. olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution at their seventh visit.

Ocular itching and conjunctival hyperemia were measured after each visit and a single administration of the ophthalmic solutions were instilled at 15 minutes (visit 4), 4 hours (visit 5), 8 hours (visit 6) and 4 hours (visit 7).

“For the primary endpoint, epinastine showed superiority to placebo for the inhibition of ocular itching and conjunctival hyperemia induced at 4 hours after the dose,” the researchers said.

There was significant inhibition in itching and conjunctival hyperemia induced at 15 minutes and 8 hours after the dose, the equivalent of twice-daily dosing, in epinastine treatment compared with placebo for secondary endpoints.

“In addition, epinastine demonstrated noninferiority to olopatadine for ocular itching and conjunctival hyperemia,” the investigators said, with no adverse reactions reported.

“Epinastine should be considered an effective and rational choice in the treatment of cedar pollen allergic conjunctivitis in Japan,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Hiroshi Fujishima, MD, Yuichi Ohashi, MD, and Etsuko Takamura, MD, have consulted for Santen Pharmaceutical.