COMPARISON OF EFFECTS OF TOPICAL LEVOCABASTINE AND NEDOCROMIL SODIUM ON THE EARLY RESPONSE IN A CONJUNCTIVAL PROVOCATION TEST WITH ALLERGEN

Background: Multiple ocular challenges or seasonal trials have demonst rated the efficacy of levocabastine and nedocromil sodium in the treat ment of allergic conjunctivitis. Objective: This study was designed to compare the protective effect of levocabastine eye drops with that of nedocromil in a conjunctival provocation test with allergen. Methods: Twenty-four patients with allergic conjunctivitis to grass pollen wer e recruited. After a preliminary provocation to determine conjunctival reaction threshold (erythema of at least 50% of the conjunctiva with ocular itching), patients were randomized to receive either topical le vocabastine (0.05%) or nedocromil (2%) 15 minutes before provocation. Erythema and pruritus intensity were recorded at each concentration of allergen lip to the reaction threshold.Results: The allergen concentr ation level necessary to reach reaction threshold was increased (p < 0 .001) after treatment with both drugs. Comparison between screening an d each treatment indicated that the shift in allergen concentration wa s significantly greater after levocabastine treatment than after nedoc romil treatment (p = 0.019). Conjunctival itching (symptom score) and erythema (percent conjunctival surface) were also better controlled by levocabastine than by nedocromil during provocation (p < 0.05). Concl usion: In a provocation test with allergen, levocabastine and nedocrom il were both effective in increasing the conjunctival tolerance to all ergen, with better protection provided by levocabastine.