Efficacy and safety of 1% rimexolone versus 1% prednisolone acetate in the treatment of anterior uveitis – a randomized triple masked study

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1% rimexolone versus 1% prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension in the treatment of anterior uveitis. Methods: A randomised triple masked, parallel comparison of rimexolone and prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspensions was carried out on 78 patients with acute, chronic and recurrent anterior uveitis. Treatment regimen included instillation of one or two drops of drug one hourly through the waking hours during the first week, two hourly in the second week, four times a day in the third week, two times a day for the first 4 days and once a day for the 3days in the last week. The patient was clinically evaluated on the 3–4th, 7–10th, 14th, 21st and 28th days. The patient was also reviewed on the 30th day. Anterior chamber cells and flare reactions were compared for evaluating the efficacy of the drugs. Result: Rimexolone is as effective as prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension in the treatment of anterior uveitis. The largest difference found was 0.1 in the flare reaction (statistically insignificant; p=0.3) and 0.2 score units (statistically significant; p=0.01) in the cells. Overall, comparison of the drugs shows no clinical significance in the treatment of anterior uveitis by either drug. Difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) was also statistically insignificant (p>0.05). However, three patients in the prednisolone acetate group and 1 patient from the rimexolone group showed a rise in IOP. Conclusion: Rimexolone 1% ophthalmic suspension is as effective as and safer than prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic suspension in the treatment of anterior uveitis.     

Cochlear implantation in children with cochlear aplasia

Abstract Conclusion: Children with cochlear aplasia can achieve favorable speech perception abilities from cochlear implantation (CI) by inserting an electrode array into the vestibule if an audiological response is reliably demonstrated before surgery by behavioral audiometry and objective measures. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of CI in children with cochlear aplasia. Methods: The medical records of 454 children who underwent CI at the Dong-A University Hospital between January 1994 and September 2011 were reviewed. The prevalence of cochlear aplasia and the preoperative evaluations, operative findings, and postoperative speech perception abilities of implanted children with cochlear aplasia were evaluated. Results: The implanted children with cochlear aplasia accounted for 2% of those with inner ear malformations and 0.4% of all pediatric cochlear implantees. They showed audiological responses in preoperative electrophysiologic tests, and the eighth nerve was present in magnetic resonance imaging. The electrode array was inserted into the vestibule through an oval window after removing the stapes or through a transmastoid labyrinthotomy site. Electrical compound action potential and electrical auditory brainstem response tests showed clear neural responses after implantation. The hearing thresholds of the implanted ear improved to 25 dB HL and the children achieved significant open set speech perception abilities.     

Efficacy and Safety of Rimexolone 1% Versus Prednisolone Acetate 1% in the Control of Postoperative Inflammation Following Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rimexolone 1% ophthalmic suspension compared to that of 1% prednisolone acetate in the control of inflammation in eyes undergoing cataract extraction with phacoemulsification followed by posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: Forty-eight patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract extraction with phacoemulsification followed by posterior chamber IOL implantation constituted the study group of this prospective, randomized, double-masked investigation. Patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups; rimexolone 1% ophthalmic suspension (27 subjects) or prednisolone acetate 1% (21 subjects). Postoperatively, patients used topical rimexolone or prednisolone drops four times a day for 15 days. Patients were examined at the first postoperative day (day 1), and days 3, 7 and 15. The major efficacy parameters assessed clinically on each visit were anterior chamber cells, anterior chamber flare and conjunctival hyperemia. Safety of the rimexolone was evaluated by IOP values and the presence of adverse effects. RESULTS: Regarding all three efficacy parameters, rimexolone was found to be clinically and statistically equivalent to prednisolone acetate. Intraocular pressure values during the postoperative period were also similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Rimexolone 1% ophthalmic suspension is both an effective and safe topical steroid in controlling postoperative inflammation after cataract extraction with phacoemulsification.