Effect of intravenous administration of romifidine on intraocular pressure in clinically normal horses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of intravenous administration of romifidine on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in horses.


ANIMALS STUDIED
Twenty-four horses with no ocular abnormalities.


PROCEDURE
Horses were randomly assigned into two equal groups (treatment and control). All horses in the treatment group received an intravenous (IV) injection of romifidine (40 μg/kg). The horses in the control group were administrated an intravenous injection of 0.9% saline (0.4 mL/100 kg). In both groups, the IOP values were measured immediately (T0 ) pre-administration and at 5 (T5 ), 15 (T15 ), 30 (T30 ), 45 (T45 ), 60 (T60 ), 90 (T90 ), and 120 (T120 ) min after drug administration.


RESULTS
The pre-treatment values (T0 ) of IOP for right and left eyes were 24.25 ± 3.5 and 25.16 ± 3.4 mmHg, respectively. A significant decrease in IOP values was observed in both right and left eyes of the horses in treatment group at T5 , T15 , T30 , T45 , T60 , and T90 in comparison with the baseline values (P < 0.05). The lowest level of IOP in romifidine-treated groups was recorded at T45 for the right and left eyes (10.25 ± 2.3 and 11.25 ± 3.5 mmHg, respectively).


CONCLUSION
Romifidine significantly decreased IOP in clinically normal horses and may be used safely for surgery or diagnostic ocular procedures in horses when specific control of IOP is required.
['Marzok|Mohamed A|MA|', 'El-Khodery|Sabry A|SA|', 'Oheida|Aiman H|AH|']
D000818:Animals D005260:Female D006736:Horses D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives D007093:Imidazoles D007275:Injections, Intravenous D007429:Intraocular Pressure D008297:Male D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
romifidine intraocular pressure horse applanation tonometry