Topical nonpreserved @entity1667 therapy for @entity9849 sicca in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity1667 @entity32 @entity231 @entity146 @entity1036 @entity9849 @entity134 @entity2790 @entity751 @entity941 @entity936 @entity432 @entity8313 @entity288
OBJECTIVE: To review the efficacy and side effects of topical nonpreserved corticosteroid therapy for treatment of severe @entity9849 associated with @entity751 . DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative case series. @entity1 : Twenty-one @entity1 with @entity751 -associated @entity9849 sicca and annoying @entity146 . INTERVENTION: Treatment with topical nonpreserved @entity8313 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptom severity, frequency of instillation of artificial tears, corneal @entity941 staining scores, resolution of @entity1036 , @entity134 -related side effects. RESULTS: Before starting @entity1667 therapy, all @entity1 were experiencing moderate-to-severe eye @entity146 despite prior @entity432 in most cases and frequent use of nonpreserved artificial tears by all. After 2 weeks of topical application, three to four times per day, moderate (43%) or complete (57%) relief of @entity146 symptoms was experienced by all @entity1 and no complications were observed. An average decrease in corneal fluorescein scores of 2.6 +/- 0.5 points (on a 12-point scale) was observed, and @entity1036 resolved in all ten eyes with this condition. Therapy was stopped after 2 weeks in eight @entity1 , and six of these @entity1 reported that their symptoms remained at a tolerable level for weeks to months. Lower dose @entity134 therapy was continued in the remaining @entity1 , whose symptoms worsened after attempted weaning. Complications of corticosteroid therapy in @entity1 receiving prolonged therapy included @entity2790 in one @entity1 at 3 months, worsening of pre-existing posterior subcapsular @entity231 in one @entity1 at 6 months, and formation of posterior subcapsular @entity231 in another @entity1 at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that topical nonpreserved @entity1667 is an effective treatment option for @entity1 suffering from severe @entity9849 sicca who continue to experience bothersome eye @entity146 despite maximum aqueous enhancement therapies. They also suggest that @entity32 is a key pathogenic factor in this condition. Careful monitoring is essential in @entity936 @entity1 treated with @entity288 for more than 2 weeks because @entity134 -related complications ( @entity2790 and @entity231 formation) were observed after several months of therapy in this series. Because of the chronic nature of this disease and the likelihood of @entity1 developing @entity134 -related complications with their long-term use, topical nonpreserved @entity1667 therapy appears to be most appropriate for short-term "pulse" treatment of exacerbations of @entity9849 sicca.
