The effect of topical pranoprofen 0.1% on the clinical evaluation and conjunctival HLA-DR expression in dry eyes.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of topical pranoprofen 0.1% on the clinical evaluation and conjunctival human leukocyte antigen II (HLA-DR) expression in dry eyes.

METHODS

Sixty patients with dry eyes were randomized to 2 groups. Patients in group 1 received topical pranoprofen 0.1% plus topical sodium hyaluronate 0.1%; and patients in group 2 received sodium hyaluronate without pranoprofen. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer I test, ocular surface staining (OSS), and conjunctival HLA-DR expression were evaluated before treatment and at 15 and 30 days after treatment.

RESULTS

On day 15, patients in group 1 had significantly lower OSDI, OSS, and HLA-DR-positive cells compared with patients in group 2 (P < 0.01), and the TBUT was significantly longer in patients in group 1 than that of patients in group 2 (P < 0.01). On day 30, the difference between the 2 groups in OSS lost significance; however, there continued to be significant differences in the OSDI, TBUT, and HLA-DR expression between the 2 groups (P < 0.01). On days 15 and 30, the values in group 1 patients had significant improvement compared with their baseline values in terms of the above-mentioned parameters. The comparisons within group 2 did not reveal any significant differences. There was no significant effect in the Schirmer I test value in eyes of patients in group 1 or group 2 at days 15 or 30 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Topical pranoprofen 0.1% has a beneficial effect in reducing the ocular signs and symptoms of dry eyes and decreasing the inflammatory markers of conjunctival epithelial cells.