Effects of Loteprednol Etabonate and Ketorolac Tromethamine on Intraocular Inflammation and Oxidative Stress After Paracentesis‐Induced Blood‐Aqueous Barrier Breakdown in Cats

ABSTRACT

Objective

To compare the effects of loteprednol etobonate (LE) and ketorolac tromethamine (KT) on pupil diameter (PD) and aqueous humor levels of prostaglandin E
2
(PGE
2
), total protein (TP), and glutathione (GSH) following paracentesis‐induced intraocular inflammation in cats.



Methods

Thirty cats (
n
 = 10/group) underwent anterior chamber paracentesis at T1 and T2 (60 min apart). At T1, the right eye received one drop of LE, KT, or saline (CG). PD was measured at T1 and T2, and aqueous humor samples were analyzed for PGE
2
, TP, and GSH.



Results

At T1, PD, PGE
2
, TP, and GSH levels did not differ among groups (
p
 > 0.05). At T2, PGE
2
concentrations were significantly lower in LE (
p
 < 0.0001) and KT (
p
 = 0.01) groups when compared to CG. When compared to CG, TP values were significantly lower only in the LE group (
p
 = 0.002). GSH levels decreased significantly across all groups (
p
 < 0.01), maintaining significantly higher levels in the LE group (
p
 = 0.04). PD decreased significantly in the CG (
p
 = 0.003) and KT (
p
 = 0.01) groups, but not in the LE group (
p
 = 0.18).



Conclusions

LE and KT effectively reduced PGE
2
levels following paracentesis. LE also significantly decreased TP levels, mitigated miosis, and preserved GSH, indicating reduced oxidative stress. Considering that KT also reduced PGE
2
levels, further studies are warranted to determine whether KT might effectively reduce protein influx into the anterior chamber at later time points.