SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2004
8/17/04
Patterns in Alphagan allergy
Summary
Background - Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution (Alphagan) is an effective treatment for the elevated intra ocular pressure due to glaucoma. However, concerns have been raised about the relative frequency of "allergic" adverse reactions to Alphagan.
Findings - Osborne et al of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland reviewed the findings with various glaucoma eye-drop treatments in their clinic from 5/99 to 9/01. They found that Alphagan had been discontinued because of adverse reactions on 73 of 100,000 patient days. This was a considerably greater frequency than with other eye-drop treatments for glaucoma. In addition, an allergic reaction to Alphagan was followed sooner by allergic reactions to other eye-drop medications than would occur if the other medications had been used without prior Alphagan treatment.
Reference
Eye (E pub - 7/9/04)
Editor's Comments
I have reviewed this article because Alphagan is being used extensively as the population of older individuals increases. The allergist may be consulted because the eye manifestations in the Alphagan adverse reaction may be mis-diagnosed by the ophthalmologist as allergic conjunctivitis due to aeroallergen sensitivity. The authors did not describe any evidence for the type of underlying pathogenic mechanisms involved in Alphagan reactions. I could not find investigation of such mechanisms in a Medline search. Obviously, further investigation is warranted.
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