Ocular hypotensive effect of latanoprost as compared with isopropyl unoprostone

Yamamoto Tetsuya, Tamada Yuji, Murase Hiromi, Taniguchi Toru, Kitazawa Yoshiaki

Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan

We investigated the ocular hypotensive efficacy of latanoprost in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This prospective study included 59 NTG and 20 POAG patients treated with the following four dosing regimens of latanoprost: patients on no previous medication received latanoprost as initial therapy (Group I, n=31), patients on beta-blocker therapy received latanoprost as adjunctive therapy (Group II, n=9), patients on unoprostone monotherapy were switched to latanoprost monotherapy (Group III, n=14), and patients previously on dual therapy with isopropyl unoprostone and beta-blocker were switched to a combined treatment of latanoprost and beta-blocker (Group IV, n=25). IOP significantly decreased 8 weeks afterinitiation of latanoprost therapy by 19.9% in Group I, 20.5% in Group II, 16.6% in Group III, and 12.2% in Group IV. The IOP level before latanoprost therapy is a contributing factor in the IOP-lowering efficacy of latanoprost. Latanoprost is more effective in lowering IOP than isopropyl unoprostone.