Acta Oto-Laryngologica
ISSN: 0001-6489 (Print) 1651-2251 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ioto20
Dscg Eye Drops in Allergic Rhino-Conjunctivitis Margaretha Foglé-Hansson & Hans Rundcrantz To cite this article: Margaretha Foglé-Hansson & Hans Rundcrantz (1978) Dscg Eye Drops in Allergic Rhino-Conjunctivitis, Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 86:sup360, 33-34, DOI: 10.3109/00016487809123464 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00016487809123464
Published online: 08 Jul 2009.
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Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ioto20 Download by: [New York University]
Date: 29 March 2016, At: 17:31
Acta Otolaryngol, Suppl. 360: 33-34, 1979 DSCG EYE DROPS IN ALLERGIC RHINO-CONJUNCTIVITIS Margaretha Fogle-Hansson and Hans Rundcrantz
Downloaded by [New York University] at 17:31 29 March 2016
Frotn the E N T Depurtment, Coritity Ho.rpitul. SXritdc, Sweden
AbJircicr. Thirty patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were treated with eye drops containing 2 % DSCG during the pollen season of 1977. Sixteen patients were treated with active substance and 14 with placebo. The results show a statistically significant difference in favour of the DSCG drops. DSCG in eye drops seems to be a valuable complement to the drugs available today for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
The treatment of vernal rhinoconjunctivitis as well as other allergic diseases is based upon three major principles: elimination of allergens, hyposensitization, and use of drugs. Pollens are almost impossible to avoid, and hyposensitization is not always effective and is often time-consuming in relation to the short pollen season and even sometimes accompanied by untoward reactions. The majority of drugs used in allergy treatment have the disadvantage of side effects, e.g. antihistamines and corticosteroids. A great many reports have demonstrated that topically administered disodium chromoglycate (DSCG) has an excellent effect in preventing bronchial asthma and rhinitis caused by pollen allergy (Engstrom & Vejmolova, 1970; Engstrom et al., 1971; Frostad, 1977). N o side effects of any importance have so far been reported. It would seem logical to assume that DSCG could constitute a safe but effective drug for the topical treatment of allergic conjunctivitis as well. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty healthy adults with confirmed allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by pollens have been studied-14 men and 16 women, mean age 29 years. The investigation took place dur3 - 7X3XSh
ing the pollen season May-June 1977 and was a double-blind trial. The “active” drug was composed of 2 % DSCG, 0.01 % benzalkonium chloride and 0.4 % 2-phenylethanol. The placebo drug had the same composition except for DSCG. One drop was applied in each eye six times a day for 3 weeks. The patients were asked to fill in a diary card on which they scored their symptoms (from “O’, no symptoms at all, to “ 4 ” , very severe symptoms). Variations in the weather were also noted. A thorough medical examination of the patient was made before the start of the study and immediately after the test period. The symptom scoring by the investigators was used simultaneously with those of the patients. RESULTS The results are based on a statistical calculation of the symptom scores. Success means that the score reached “0’ or decreased by at least 50%. One patient was excluded from the final assessment. Success Failure Not sure
Active 13 1 1
Placebo 6 5 3
The DSCG drops were successful in 8796, while the placebo drops were reported successful in 43%. The difference is significant, pC0.05. Side effects Seven patients in the active group and 6 in the placebo group reported a mild and very transiAc
ti1
Ofdon t i yo1
Sii/ipl
360
34
M . FoglP-Hunsson und H . Ritndcruntz
ent stinging in the eyes when applying the drops. Only one patient stopped the treatment because of this. No other side effects were reported.
Downloaded by [New York University] at 17:31 29 March 2016
DISCUSSION The results show good agreement with those from treatment of allergic rhinitis with DSCG, usually a success rate of 7 0 4 0 % (Engstrom etal., 1971; Easty et al., 1972; Frostad, 1977; Kazdan et al., 1976; Wardell et al., 1977). No less than 43% of the patients in the placebo group reported success, which seems to be within the “normal range” of placebo effects. CONCLUSION Eye drops containing 2 % DSCG constitute an effective remedy almost entirely lacking in side effects, for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. It is of great importance that atoxic and effective pharmaceutical agents for topical administration to the allergic mucous membranes should be produced and tested. DSCG in eye drops tested in this study is an example of such an agent that may reduce the need for hyposensitization, systemic antihistamines and corticosteroids in vernal rhinoconjunctivitis.
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Dreissig Patienten mit allergischer Rhinoconjunctivitis sind wahrend der Pollenzeit 1977 mit Augentropfen, die 2 % DSCG enthalten, behandelt worden. Sechzehn Patienten sind mit aktiver Substanz behandelt worden und vierzehn mit Placebo. Die Resultate zeigen einen signifikanten Unterschied zugunsten der DSCG-Tropfen. DSCG in Augentropfen scheint eine wertvolle Erganrung zu den Heilmitteln, die wir heute in der Behandlung von allergischer Rhinoconjunctivitis haben, zu sein.
REFERENCES Engstrom, I . & Vejmolova, J. 1970. The effect of disodiumchromoglycate on allergen challenge in children with bronchial asthma. Acta A l l e r p l 2 5 , 382-391. Engstrom, I . , Oberger, E . , Blyckert, A . & Kraepelien, S. 1971. Disodium chromoglycate in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in children. Ann Allergy 29. Easty, D., Rice, N . S. C. & Jones, B. R. 1972. Clinical trial of topical disodium chomoglycate in vernal kerato-conjunctivitis. Clin All 2 , 99-107. Frostad, A. B. 1977. The treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis with a 2 % aqueous solution of sodium chromoglycate delivered by a metered dose nasal spray. Clin All 7. Kazdan, J. J. et al. 1976. Sodium chrornoglycate (Intal) in the treatment of vernal kerato-conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Can J Ophrhalrnol 11, 3W303. Wardell, G . et al. 1977. The use of sodium chromoglycate eye drops (Opticrom).J Pharmacotherapy I , 17-19. Marguretha Fogle-Hansson, M.D. ENT Department County Hospital Skovdr Sweden
ISSN: 0001-6489 (Print) 1651-2251 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ioto20
Dscg Eye Drops in Allergic Rhino-Conjunctivitis Margaretha Foglé-Hansson & Hans Rundcrantz To cite this article: Margaretha Foglé-Hansson & Hans Rundcrantz (1978) Dscg Eye Drops in Allergic Rhino-Conjunctivitis, Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 86:sup360, 33-34, DOI: 10.3109/00016487809123464 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00016487809123464
Published online: 08 Jul 2009.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 1
View related articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ioto20 Download by: [New York University]
Date: 29 March 2016, At: 17:31
Acta Otolaryngol, Suppl. 360: 33-34, 1979 DSCG EYE DROPS IN ALLERGIC RHINO-CONJUNCTIVITIS Margaretha Fogle-Hansson and Hans Rundcrantz
Downloaded by [New York University] at 17:31 29 March 2016
Frotn the E N T Depurtment, Coritity Ho.rpitul. SXritdc, Sweden
AbJircicr. Thirty patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were treated with eye drops containing 2 % DSCG during the pollen season of 1977. Sixteen patients were treated with active substance and 14 with placebo. The results show a statistically significant difference in favour of the DSCG drops. DSCG in eye drops seems to be a valuable complement to the drugs available today for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
The treatment of vernal rhinoconjunctivitis as well as other allergic diseases is based upon three major principles: elimination of allergens, hyposensitization, and use of drugs. Pollens are almost impossible to avoid, and hyposensitization is not always effective and is often time-consuming in relation to the short pollen season and even sometimes accompanied by untoward reactions. The majority of drugs used in allergy treatment have the disadvantage of side effects, e.g. antihistamines and corticosteroids. A great many reports have demonstrated that topically administered disodium chromoglycate (DSCG) has an excellent effect in preventing bronchial asthma and rhinitis caused by pollen allergy (Engstrom & Vejmolova, 1970; Engstrom et al., 1971; Frostad, 1977). N o side effects of any importance have so far been reported. It would seem logical to assume that DSCG could constitute a safe but effective drug for the topical treatment of allergic conjunctivitis as well. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty healthy adults with confirmed allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by pollens have been studied-14 men and 16 women, mean age 29 years. The investigation took place dur3 - 7X3XSh
ing the pollen season May-June 1977 and was a double-blind trial. The “active” drug was composed of 2 % DSCG, 0.01 % benzalkonium chloride and 0.4 % 2-phenylethanol. The placebo drug had the same composition except for DSCG. One drop was applied in each eye six times a day for 3 weeks. The patients were asked to fill in a diary card on which they scored their symptoms (from “O’, no symptoms at all, to “ 4 ” , very severe symptoms). Variations in the weather were also noted. A thorough medical examination of the patient was made before the start of the study and immediately after the test period. The symptom scoring by the investigators was used simultaneously with those of the patients. RESULTS The results are based on a statistical calculation of the symptom scores. Success means that the score reached “0’ or decreased by at least 50%. One patient was excluded from the final assessment. Success Failure Not sure
Active 13 1 1
Placebo 6 5 3
The DSCG drops were successful in 8796, while the placebo drops were reported successful in 43%. The difference is significant, pC0.05. Side effects Seven patients in the active group and 6 in the placebo group reported a mild and very transiAc
ti1
Ofdon t i yo1
Sii/ipl
360
34
M . FoglP-Hunsson und H . Ritndcruntz
ent stinging in the eyes when applying the drops. Only one patient stopped the treatment because of this. No other side effects were reported.
Downloaded by [New York University] at 17:31 29 March 2016
DISCUSSION The results show good agreement with those from treatment of allergic rhinitis with DSCG, usually a success rate of 7 0 4 0 % (Engstrom etal., 1971; Easty et al., 1972; Frostad, 1977; Kazdan et al., 1976; Wardell et al., 1977). No less than 43% of the patients in the placebo group reported success, which seems to be within the “normal range” of placebo effects. CONCLUSION Eye drops containing 2 % DSCG constitute an effective remedy almost entirely lacking in side effects, for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. It is of great importance that atoxic and effective pharmaceutical agents for topical administration to the allergic mucous membranes should be produced and tested. DSCG in eye drops tested in this study is an example of such an agent that may reduce the need for hyposensitization, systemic antihistamines and corticosteroids in vernal rhinoconjunctivitis.
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Dreissig Patienten mit allergischer Rhinoconjunctivitis sind wahrend der Pollenzeit 1977 mit Augentropfen, die 2 % DSCG enthalten, behandelt worden. Sechzehn Patienten sind mit aktiver Substanz behandelt worden und vierzehn mit Placebo. Die Resultate zeigen einen signifikanten Unterschied zugunsten der DSCG-Tropfen. DSCG in Augentropfen scheint eine wertvolle Erganrung zu den Heilmitteln, die wir heute in der Behandlung von allergischer Rhinoconjunctivitis haben, zu sein.
REFERENCES Engstrom, I . & Vejmolova, J. 1970. The effect of disodiumchromoglycate on allergen challenge in children with bronchial asthma. Acta A l l e r p l 2 5 , 382-391. Engstrom, I . , Oberger, E . , Blyckert, A . & Kraepelien, S. 1971. Disodium chromoglycate in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in children. Ann Allergy 29. Easty, D., Rice, N . S. C. & Jones, B. R. 1972. Clinical trial of topical disodium chomoglycate in vernal kerato-conjunctivitis. Clin All 2 , 99-107. Frostad, A. B. 1977. The treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis with a 2 % aqueous solution of sodium chromoglycate delivered by a metered dose nasal spray. Clin All 7. Kazdan, J. J. et al. 1976. Sodium chrornoglycate (Intal) in the treatment of vernal kerato-conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Can J Ophrhalrnol 11, 3W303. Wardell, G . et al. 1977. The use of sodium chromoglycate eye drops (Opticrom).J Pharmacotherapy I , 17-19. Marguretha Fogle-Hansson, M.D. ENT Department County Hospital Skovdr Sweden
