TOLERANCE OF N-CHLOROTAURINE, AN ENDOGENOUS ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, IN THE RABBIT AND HUMAN EYE - A PHASE-I CLINICAL-STUDY

N-chlorotaurine (NCT), an essential weak oxidative N-chloro compound p roduced by stimulated human leukocytes, shows bactericidal, fungicidal , virucidal and vermicidal efficacy. A double-blind, randomized and pl acebo controlled study was done to evaluate the tolerance of the aqueo us NCT solution by application to rabbit and human conjunctiva. In six rabbits treated with 1% and 3% NCT regimen for nine days no ocular an d behaviour changes could be observed. In a pilot study with two volun teers, treatment with 2.8% NCT for five days caused a self-limited con junctival injection of one subject, while 1% NCT was well tolerated. S ubsequently, eight healthy volunteers participated in a phase I clinic al study. One percent NCT was applied for five days and was well toler ated by all subjects except for minimal eye burning after the applicat ion. Because of these positive results, usage of the antimicrobial age nt NCT in ophthalmology is suggested.