N-ACETYL-ASPARTYL GLUTAMIC-ACID (NAAGA) TOPICAL EYEDROPS IN THE TREATMENT OF GIANT PAPILLARY CONJUNCTIVITIS (GPC)

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) is a conjunctival inflammatory co ndition associated with contact lens wear. The etiology is still unkno wn and no adequate treatment is found. Mastcell stabilizing drugs are useful in the treatment of chronic inflammatory processes. The effect of 6% N-acetyl-aspartyl glutamic acid (NAAGA), a mastcell stabilizing agent, in a double-masked comparative trial with placebo in the treatm ent of GPC is reported. Seventeen patients with symptomatic GPC were t reated over a four week period, eyes were randomized to receive NAAGA or placebo. A decrease in symptoms was found for both eyes. No signifi cant difference of clinical symptoms and signs were observed between N AAGA or placebo treated eyes. These results suggest a wash effect of p lacebo in GPC. Tear C3a showed a increased level compared to normals b ut no statistically significance was observed in our study. The result s of this study indicate that mastcell stabilization in GPC has little effect and treatment should be focused more on inflammatory mediators released because of mechanical stimuli.