Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 1983  |  Volume : 31  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 447--449

"Estimation of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole levels in tears after systemic administration"


GK Sharma, SG Kabra, RP Garg, PK Sharma, LK Nepalia 
 India

Correspondence Address:
G K Sharma
India




How to cite this article:
Sharma G K, Kabra S G, Garg R P, Sharma P K, Nepalia L K. "Estimation of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole levels in tears after systemic administration".Indian J Ophthalmol 1983;31:447-449


How to cite this URL:
Sharma G K, Kabra S G, Garg R P, Sharma P K, Nepalia L K. "Estimation of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole levels in tears after systemic administration". Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1983 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];31:447-449
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1983/31/4/447/27576


Full Text

The control of ophthalmic infection still remains a challange. Though rationally spaced topical instillations work in most of the cases, yet systemic administration enjoys advantage of acting internally through blood and externally through tears provided the drug is excreted in adequate concentration in kears. Further, a drug secreted in tears has more sustained effect than the locallay instil�led one, which tends to be flushed out.

Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole combination is presently used widely as a mutually potentiating antibacterial combina�tion at minimum inhibitory concentration in blood[1],[2]. Their penetration in various body fluids has been assessed by several workers. However, its analysis in tears seems to have been conspicuously neglected. Hence it was considered pertinent to evaluate the concen�

tration of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxa zole in tears.

 MATERIALS AND METHODS



Subject matterof the present study compri�sed of 50 normals of either sex and varying age. They were given 160 mg. of Trimethoprim and 800 mg. of Sulfamethoxazole 12 hourly in 5 groups of 10 individuals each varying from groups to 10 dosage. The samples 0.5 ml. of tear and 2 ml. of blood were taken simultaneously every 4 hours for 12 hours, after the last dose, for the estimation of drug in them by colorimetric method of Shepered[3] for Trimethoprim and colorimetric method of Deniel[4] for Sulfamethoxazole.

 OBSERVATIONS



The levels of Trimethoprim and Sulfame�thoxazole in tears at various hours are presented in [Table 1] and 2 respectively.

 DISCUSSIONS



The concentrations of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole estimated in tears and plasma in the present study are more than the minimum inhibitory concentration values for most of the sensitive organisms[5]. In inflammatory conditions, the concentration of these drugs in tears is expected to be still higher due to increase in permeability of the inflammed tissues.

On estimation of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole concentration in plasma and tears, it was observed that the maximum concentration of these drugs was achieved in (1 to 10 dosage). The rise in level was more significant in case of Sulfamethoxazole than Trimethoprim which can be due to the cumulative effect in case of Sulfamethoxazole. However, in case of Trimethoprim the increasing levels were due to alkalinising the urine which decreased its clearance[6].

Statistical analysis of the observations presented revealed a highly significant (p L.0.001) positive correlation between the serum and tear levels of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole at various dose intervals as shown below:

[INLINE:1]

4 hours, followed by a decline at 8 and 12 hours. An ever increasing rise in concentra�tion of both the drugs was observed in plasma and tears on increasing dosage schedule

Both the drugs were secreted in tears and their levels in Vsub tears bore a statistically significant correlation (r= -+ 0.77, r= +0.76) with the serum level. The tear concentration of Trimethoprim was significantly (p 40.001) greater than the serum level and consistently correlated with cumulative serum level pro�gressively from 1 to 10 dosage administra�tions. Similar higher levels in other body fluids than in plasma have been reported in sputum and saliva[7] and in prostatic secre�tions[8]. It may be because of a dual process of ultrafiltration and active transport that steps up the Trimethoprim level in tears. The level of Sulfamethoxazole in tear however was consistently lower than the serum level.

It is therefore concluded that systemic administration of a commonly used combi�nation of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxa�zole is a useful adjunct in the treatment of ophthalmic infections especially corneal ulcer and acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Trime�thoprim because of its demonstrated selective concentration in tears is likely to be more effective and beneficial.

 SUMMARY



50 normals were studied for the Trime�thoprim and Sulfamethoxazole levels in plasma and tears. It was observed that both the drugs are secreted in tears in statistically significant concentration higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration for most of the organisms. The concentration in tear is dependent upon plasma concentration which in turn is dose dependent. Trimetho�prim is selectivily and actively secreted in tear. Hence systemic administration of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole is a useful adjunct to topical instillations.

References

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2Darrel, J.H., Garod. L.P., and waterworth, Pamela M. 1968 J. of Clinical Pathology, 21: 202.
3Shepered, R.G., 1948 Ant, Chem. 20,: 1150.
4Daniel., J.W., 1961 Analyst, 86, 640.
5Bushby, S.R.M. 1969 Postgrad, Med. J. 45, 10-17.
6Sharpstone, P. 1969 Postrad, Med. J. 45, suppl., 38.
7Hughes, B.T.D., Bye, A., and Hedde., P. 1971 Proc. 7th Int. Congr. Chemother. 1, 1105.
8Neilsen. M.L. and Hansen Th. 1972 Scand. J. Urol. Nephrol. 6, 245.