Loteprednol etabonate: comparison with other steroids in two models of intraocular inflammation

Loteprednol etabonate (LE) is a novel steroid with a low tendency to raise IOP. It is metabolized in the eye to an inactive metabolite. The current study was undertaken to assess the intra-ocular anti-inflammatory activity of LE in two models of experimental uveitis in rabbits. In the endotoxin induced rabbit model, LE was effective at reducing measures of inflammation, but less so that either fluorometholone (FML) or dexamethasone. In the Freunds adjuvant chronic uveitis model, FML was also very effective with LE and dexamethasone showing similar activity. The data demonstrate that LE is effective at reducing intra-ocular inflammation.