[Dorzolamide: hypotensive efficacy in combination with beta-blockers. Long-term results].

PURPOSE: To know, in long term, the effects in IOP of dorzolamide as adjunctive treatment to beta-blockers. To compare the hypotensory potential added to the different beta-blockers (selective, non-selective, with I.S.A.). To compare its potential as hypotensive drug versus another drugs in association to beta-blockers- pilocarpine and dipivalilepinefrina. METHODS: A descriptive-retrospective randomised study about 132 eyes with glaucoma, with 16 months of mean follow-up; divided into three groups: one of the patients treated with association to beta-blockers, and the two others patients treated with a combination of beta-blockers with pilocarpine or DPVE, in which they were substituted by dorzolamide. Student T was used for comparing the media. RESULTS: The average IOP reduction was 21.48 to 18.39 mmHg, with the addiction of dorzolamide to beta-blockers. Between the different beta-blockers, the non selective showed a higher hypotensive effect in association to dorzolamide (5.23 mmHg), more than selective (3.75 mmHg), but not significantly higher than those with I.S.A. (4.29 mmHg). In substitution of pilocarpine or DPVE, in its use associated to beta-blockers, dorzolamide showed a significantly higher efficacy, with an average IOP reduction of 4.16 mmHg by pilocarpine, and 4.33 by DPVE. CONCLUSION: Dorzolamide gets a higher hypotensive effect by adding it to patients in treatment with beta-blockers, principally with the non selective ones. In this way, it has shown a superior hypotensive effect than pilocarpine and DPVE.