Aqueous penetration of topical tacrolimus

Samir S Shoughy; Faisal M Aljassar; Khalid F Tabbara

doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2019.100582

Aqueous penetration of topical tacrolimus

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2020 Jan 17:17:100582. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2019.100582. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Authors

Samir S Shoughy¹, Faisal M Aljassar¹, Khalid F Tabbara^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ The Eye Center and the Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the penetration of topical tacrolimus 0.05% into the aqueous humor.

Observations: A total of four patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery were included prospectively. We excluded patients with corneal pathology or ocular surface diseases. Topical tacrolimus 0.05% was compounded at our facility. It was dosed every 1 min for 5 min an hour before the aqueous was sampled. Aqueous samples were collected at the time of cataract surgery and were subjected to detection of presence and level of tacrolimus. There were 2 male and 2 female patients. The age range was 58-73 years with a mean age of 66 years. Tacrolimus was detected in the aqueous humor in all patients. The concentration of tacrolimus in the aqueous ranged from 2.6 to 5.6 ng/ml (mean 4.15 ± 1.18 ng/ml). In all patients, the aqueous tacrolimus concentration was greater than the minimal therapeutic level. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (registration number is NCT02794610).

Conclusions and importance: Tacrolimus was detected in the aqueous humor following topical application. Topical tacrolimus may be a promising steroid-sparing modality for the treatment of anterior uveitis.

Keywords: Ocular inflammation; Ocular penetration; Topical tacrolimus.

Publication types

Case Reports

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02794610