Clinical predictors of latanoprost treatment effect

To determine the relationship between latanoprost efficacy and clinical features of glaucoma.

Study design was retrospective, observational case series. The charts of all patients who underwent a one-eyed therapeutic trial of latanoprost during the course of their clinical care between 1997 and 2001 were reviewed. Intraocular pressures of both eyes prior to and one month after initiation of latanoprost were recorded. Latanoprost treatment effect was calculated by subtracting the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) in the fellow eye from the change in the treated eye. The effect of optic disc stage, age, race, sex, diagnosis, involved eye, type and number of other glaucoma medications, pattern of cupping (concentric, focal, or indeterminate), and pre-treatment IOP was correlated with the treatment effect. The stage of glaucoma was determined by determining the disc damage likelihood scale (DDLS) stage.

One hundred eighty-six cases were included. Latanoprost treatment effect was 4.5 +/- 5.7 mm Hg, was moderately correlated with pre-treatment IOP (Pearson's r = 0.527, P < 0.01), and was weakly inversely correlated with advancing disc stage (Pearson's r = -0.194, P < 0.01) and age (Pearson's r = -0.175, P < 0.05). It was independent of the other variables studied (P > 0.05).

Most clinical parameters examined in this study were not correlated with latanoprost treatment response. A moderate direct correlation was noted with pre-treatment IOP and a weak inverse correlation was noted with optic disc stage and age.