A COMPARISON OF LATANOPROST AND TIMOLOL IN PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA AND OCULAR HYPERTENSION - A 12-WEEK STUDY

Objective: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)reducing effect a nd the side effects of latanoprost (PhXA41), a new phenyl-substituted prostaglandin F-2 alpha-isopropyl ester analogue, in patients with ele vated IOP, using timolol maleate as the reference drug. Methods: A tot al of 184 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hyperten sion at 35 medica!centers participated in this randomized double-maske d study. The patients were randomized to receive either 0.005% latanop rost once daily or 0.5% timolol maleate twice daily, for a period of 1 2 weeks. Intraocular pressure was measured 24 hours after the administ ration of timolol, at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Results: Lat anoprost reduced IOP at the end of 12 weeks by 6.2 +/- 2.7 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) (26.8%), while timolol reduced IOP by 4.4 +/- 2.3 mm Hg (19.9 %). At all visits latanoprost reduced TOP significantly more than timo lol did. The main ocular side effects observed in both groups were con junctival hyperemia and smarting. The main systemic side effect was a reduced pulse rate, which occurred in patients treated with timolol. C onclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that 0.005% latanop rost taken once daily is well tolerated and more effective in reducing TOP than 0.5% timolol taken twice daily. Thus, latanoprost may become an important choice for the medical treatment of glaucoma.