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Abstract #19032 Published in IGR 3-1
Pharmaceutical management of the childhood glaucomas
Talbot AW; Russell-Eggitt IExpert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy 2000; 1: 697-711
Glaucoma in childhood is a diverse, blinding group of conditions, which presents a major therapeutic challenge. Treatment is primarily surgical with medical treatments used as an adjunct. None of these drugs has been granted approval by the regulatory agencies for use in children, but they are used on a compassionate basis. Issues of efficacy and safety of these medications in children are discussed. Beta-adrenoceptor blockers have been employed as first line pharmaceutical therapy for many years. Recently, three new classes of drugs have been developed for use in glaucoma in adults. beta-blockers remain first line therapy if there are no contraindications such as asthma. Topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI) appear to be less effective than beta-blockers, but seem safe systemically, although associated with local irritation. They are useful as an adjunct to beta-blockers or as first line therapy when beta-blockers are contraindicated. Prostaglandins have not proved as effective in childhood glaucoma as in adult glaucoma, although it works well in some patients with juvenile open angle glaucoma (JOAG) and others with aphakic glaucoma. alpha-adrenergic agonists, although effective at least in the short-term, have serious, potential systemic side-effects, which demand close observation when used in neonates and young infants.
Dr A.W. Talbot, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK. 2talbots@compuserve.com
Classification:
9.1 Developmental glaucomas (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas)
