Three percent diquafosol ophthalmic solution as an additional therapy to existing artificial tears with steroids for dry-eye patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the long-term results of 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution as an alternative therapy to existing ophthalmic solutions, including topical immunosuppression, for the treatment of dry eye in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Methods This study involved 14 female dryeye patients (mean age: 62.4 years) with Sjögren's syndrome who insufficiently responded to their current therapy. In all patients, 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution was administered six times daily for 12 months in substitution for artificial tears and sodium hyaluronate ophthalmic solution. Their use of corticosteroid eye drops remained unchanged from that prior to the treatment with diquafosol sodium. The subjective symptoms assessed, and ocular signs including tear meniscus radius and the tear film breakup time, and ocular-surface epithelial damage score were examined at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12 months after initiating treatment. Results Among the subjective symptoms, significant improvement was obtained in dryness at 2 months post treatment, in eye fatigue at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12 months post treatment, and in pain at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months post treatment. Difficulty in opening the eye, foreign body sensation, and redness were also significantly ameliorated at various time-points. The tear meniscus radius and the tear film breakup time were significantly improved throughout the observation period, and the corneal epithelial staining scores were significantly decreased at 3 months post treatment. ConclusionsIn dry-eye patients with Sjögren's syndrome, treatment with 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution improved both symptoms and signs, and that effectiveness was maintained for 12 months.

Diquafosol Sodium Inhibits Apoptosis and Inflammation of Corneal Epithelial Cells Via Activation of Erk1/2 and RSK: In Vitro and In Vivo Dry Eye Model

“…5 As a topical ophthalmic solution (3%, six times daily), it stimulates the secretion of tears and mucin in patients with dry eye disease, maintaining its effectiveness for 12 months. 6 A large randomized, double-blind trial showed that among those with dry eye disease, diquafosol had fluorescein-staining scores that were comparable to those of 0.1% sodium hyaluronate and rose bengal subjective symptom scores that were significantly better than those of hyaluronate. 7 The encouraging clinical results of diquafosol in dry eye disease were recently reviewed.…”

Ocular Purine Receptors as Drug Targets in the Eye

“…100 As a topical ophthalmic solution (3%, 6-times daily), it stimulated secretion of tears and mucin in patients with dry eye disease, and its effectiveness was maintained for 12 months. 101 In a large randomized, double-blind trial, it improved the fluorescein staining score in dry eye disease comparably to 0.1% sodium hyaluronate and improved the rose bengal subjective symptom scores significantly better than hyaluronate. 102 The encouraging clinical results with Diquafosol in dry eye disease were recently reviewed.…”

The expression of miRNA-146a-5p and its mechanism of treating dry eye syndrome

“…Dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis, is a tear and ocular surface disease caused by a variety of factors, the main causes were decreased tear lm stability and ocular surface damage induced by tear uid and quantitative or kinetic abnormalities [1]. The disease is accompanied with eye dryness, redness, foreign body sensation and other ocular surface discomfort and visual impairment [2]. Dry eye syndrome occurs in women over 60 years of age, and its aetiology and clinical manifestations vary.…”