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How prostaglandin F affects IOP
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting here, a group of researchers presented the poster “Effect of a prostaglandin F analogue on IOP and retinal capillary perfusion in healthy persons” on Sunday, April 29.
T.J. Steffens, A. Harris and L. Kagemann and colleagues from the Indiana University Department of Ophthalmology conducted a study to determine how a prostaglandin F analogue (latanoprost, Xalatan) affects IOP, retrobulbar hemodynamics, and retinal capillary perfusion in healthy young adults. Twelve people with a refraction error between –6.00 and +2.00 D, with astigmatism of less than 1.50 D cylinder received Xalatan or a placebo once daily for four weeks in a double-masked crossover design. Color Doppler imaging determined flow velocities in four retrobulbar arteries, and retinal capillary perfusion in the superior and inferior temporal retina was determined using confocal scanning laser Doppler flowmetry.
The IOP was significantly reduced using the latanoprost as compared to a placebo. Latanoprost significantly reduced the 10th and 25th percentile pixels flow in the superior temporal peripapillary retina. The latanoprost demonstrated a significant increase in the zero-flow pixels in the temporary peripapillary area. It eliminated the significant difference of zero-flow pixels between the inferior and superior temporal peripapillary area. There were no drug effects on blood pressure, heart rate, visual acuity or contrast sensitivity.
The study concluded that in healthy individuals, the IOP reduction consequent to Xalatan treatment is associated with unchanged retrobulbar hemodynamics ad mean retinal capillary flow. However, latanoprost does increase retinal capillary areas of zero flow, suggesting that prostaglandin F alters retinal patterns of capillary recruitment.