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<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">ETM</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine</journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="ppub">1792-0981</issn>
<issn pub-type="epub">1792-1015</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name>D.A. Spandidos</publisher-name>
</publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">ETM-0-0-09152</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.3892/etm.2020.9152</article-id>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Articles</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of travoprost and latanoprost for the management of open-angle glaucoma given as an evening dose</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Li</surname><given-names>Jing</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Wang</surname><given-names>Xiaoyi</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Xu</surname><given-names>Guihua</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Deng</surname><given-names>Ruidong</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Wu</surname><given-names>Laiwei</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name><surname>Zhang</surname><given-names>Liqin</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
<name><surname>Chen</surname><given-names>Zilin</given-names></name>
<xref rid="af1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="aff"/>
<xref rid="c1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="corresp"/>
</contrib>
</contrib-group>
<aff id="af1-etm-0-0-09152">Department of Ophthalmology, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong 516001, P.R. China</aff>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="c1-etm-0-0-09152"><italic>Correspondence to:</italic> Dr Zilin Chen, Department of Ophthalmology, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, 41 Eling Road, Huizhou, Guangdong 516001, P.R. China <email>boydongdong1@126.com</email></corresp>
<fn><p><italic>Abbreviations:</italic> IOP, intraocular pressure; LT, latanoprost; TV, travoprost</p></fn>
</author-notes>
<pub-date pub-type="ppub">
<month>11</month>
<year>2020</year></pub-date>
<pub-date pub-type="epub">
<day>28</day>
<month>08</month>
<year>2020</year></pub-date>
<volume>20</volume>
<issue>5</issue>
<elocation-id>24</elocation-id>
<history>
<date date-type="received">
<day>10</day>
<month>12</month>
<year>2019</year>
</date>
<date date-type="accepted">
<day>05</day>
<month>06</month>
<year>2020</year>
</date>
</history>
<permissions>
<copyright-statement>Copyright &#x00A9; 2020, Spandidos Publications</copyright-statement>
<copyright-year>2020</copyright-year>
</permissions>
<abstract>
<p>As intraocular pressure (IOP) is primarily higher in the morning, an evening dose of prostaglandin analogs is typically used as monotherapy to decrease IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma. Travoprost (TV) has reported efficacy in treating open-angle glaucoma; however, the safety and efficacy may be different compared with that for latanoprost (LT). The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of an evening dose of TV compared with that of LT in treating open-angle glaucoma. Data including IOP, results of lid and slit-lamp examination and ophthalmoscopy, as well as adverse effects in 250 affected eyes from patients with open-angle glaucoma who received either TV (n=89) or LT (n=161) once in the evening for 3-months were included in the analyses. At the end of treatment, TV (23.45&#x00B1;1.52 vs. 19.15&#x00B1;1.01 mmHg; P&#x003C;0.0001) and LT (23.93&#x00B1;2.11 vs. 19.45&#x00B1;1.11 mmHg; P&#x003C;0.0001) successfully lowered the IOP. In addition, there was no significant difference in the reduction of IOP values at the end of treatment between the two groups (P=0.120). Furthermore, there were no adverse effects on visual acuity (P&#x003E;0.05), except for non-visual acuity, for example hyperemia (P&#x003C;0.0001 for both groups), while there was a significant increase in the number of patients with dry eyes receiving TV (P=0.020) and a significant increase with eyelid swelling (P=0.036) and headache (P=0.037) in patients receiving LT. In conclusion, evening doses of TV and LT had the same efficacy and manageable adverse effects in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (level of evidence, 3).</p>
</abstract>
<kwd-group>
<kwd>evening dosing</kwd>
<kwd>hyperemia</kwd>
<kwd>intraocular pressure</kwd>
<kwd>latanoprost</kwd>
<kwd>open-angle glaucoma</kwd>
<kwd>travoprost</kwd>
</kwd-group>
</article-meta>
</front>
<body>
<sec sec-type="intro">
<title>Introduction</title>
<p>The death of retinal ganglion cell axons and the alteration of the optic nerve may cause optic neuropathy (<xref rid="b1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>). Chronic neuropathy is termed glaucoma (<xref rid="b2-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">2</xref>), which may lead to progressive neuropathy and then blindness (<xref rid="b1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>).</p>
<p>The etiology of blindness varies among different populations. In developed countries, age-associated macular degeneration is the primary cause; however, in certain undeveloped countries, infections (i.e. trachoma) are the leading cause depend on/vary among ethnicities (<xref rid="b3-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">3</xref>). The leading cause of blindness among white individuals was reported to be age-associated macular degeneration (54.4&#x0025; of cases), while among black individuals, cataract and glaucoma accounted for &#x003E;60&#x0025; of cases of blindness (<xref rid="b4-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">4</xref>). The prevalence rates and the clinical burden (e.g. glaucomatous damage, vision loss, blindness, social withdrawal due to blindness) of open-angle glaucoma are high in the Chinese population (<xref rid="b5-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">5</xref>).</p>
<p>High intraocular pressure (IOP) is the major risk parameter used to determine the prevalence and development of glaucoma. Therefore, lowering the IOP is beneficial in the development of glaucoma (<xref rid="b6-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">6</xref>). Several methods are available for reducing IOP, for example, laser treatment, surgery, and pharmaceutical treatments; however, laser treatment and surgery are less effective compared with medication (<xref rid="b1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>).</p>
<p>An evening dose of prostaglandin analogs is typically used as monotherapy to decrease IOP (<xref rid="b7-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">7</xref>). Latanoprost (LT) is a well-established monotherapy to treat open-angle glaucoma, initially for 2 years (<xref rid="b8-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">8</xref>). Travoprost (TV) is a prostaglandin F2a analog (<xref rid="b9-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">9</xref>) and has reported efficacy in open-angle glaucoma (<xref rid="b10-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">10</xref>); however, the efficacy and safety of TV may be different compared with that for LT in treating open-angle glaucoma (<xref rid="b2-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">2</xref>,<xref rid="b11-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">11</xref>). Certain cross-sectional studies have reported superiority of TV over LT (<xref rid="b7-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">7</xref>,<xref rid="b12-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">12</xref>); however, other studies have reported equal efficacy and safety (<xref rid="b13-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">13</xref>,<xref rid="b14-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">14</xref>) in the management of open-angle glaucoma. There is also a lack of available comprehensive data on the effectiveness of TV and associated adverse effects. Thus, further research is required.</p>
<p>The objectives of the present retrospective study were to compare the effectiveness and safety of an evening dose of TV compared with that for LT in the management of open-angle glaucoma.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="Materials|methods">
<title>Materials and methods</title>
<sec>
<title/>
<sec>
<title>Study population</title>
<p>The records of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and an IOP of &#x003E;21 mmHg were extracted from the outpatient records from the Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital (Guangdong, China) from 1st January 2018 to 1st July 2019, and the data of 360 affected eyes were retrieved. Patients who were treated with drugs other than TV or LT (99 affected eyes) and subjected to laser therapy (11 affected eyes) were excluded from the analysis. The data on the 250 remaining patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and treated with either TV or LT &#x005B;based on the decision of the ophthalmologist(s)&#x005D; were retrospectively included in the analyses (<xref rid="f1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1</xref>). If patients were affected bilaterally, the patients were instructed to use drops in both eyes and the data of both eyes were included in the analysis.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Cohort</title>
<p>A total of 89 patients with (an) affected eye(s) were treated with 40 &#x00B5;g/ml TV eye drops (Travatan<sup>&#x00AE;</sup>; Alcon Laboratories Inc.) once in the evening (8 pm) (<xref rid="b15-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">15</xref>) for 3-months and 161 patients were treated with 50 &#x00B5;g/ml LT eye drops (Xalatan; Pfizer Inc.) once in the evening (8 pm) (<xref rid="b16-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">16</xref>) for 3-months. These two groups were termed the TV and LT group, respectively.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>IOP measurements</title>
<p>A total of 3 different measurements were performed by ophthalmologists (with a minimum of 3-years of experience) using the Goldman Applanation Tonometer (Haag-Streit AG) in the morning (10 am), afternoon (2 pm) and evening (6 pm) and the mean of all three measurements were used for the analysis of IOP (<xref rid="b17-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">17</xref>).</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Lid and slit-lamp examination</title>
<p>The lid and slit-lamp examination was performed by ophthalmologists (with a minimum of 3-years of experience). The upper and lower eyelids, the margin between the upper and the lower eyelids and any abnormal signs within the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber and the lens were examined. The abnormalities were scored using the following grading system: 0, Absent; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe (maximum possible) (<xref rid="b3-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">3</xref>). Conjunctival hyperemia was assessed in the temporal peripheral, nasal peripheral, central inferonasal, central superonasal, central inferotemporal and central superotemporal region of the eyes using the following classification: 0, Absent; 1, mild hyperemia; 2, moderate hyperemia; and 3, severe hyperemia (maximum possible) (<xref rid="f2-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 2</xref>). Conjunctival staining was evaluated in the same area using Lissamine green dye and scored as follows: 0, Absent; 1, mild staining; 2, moderate staining; and 3, severe staining (maximum possible). Corneal staining was assessed from the superior, inferior, central, temporal and nasal area of the cornea as follows: 0, Absent; 1, mild staining; 2, moderate staining; and 3, severe staining (maximum possible; <xref rid="f3-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3</xref>) (<xref rid="b13-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">13</xref>).</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Ophthalmoscopy</title>
<p>Ophthalmoscopy was performed by ophthalmologists (with a minimum of 3-years of experience) to examine the optic nerve head, the vertical cup to disc ratio and the optic disc hemorrhages (<xref rid="b3-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">3</xref>). All of the parameters were evaluated at the start of treatment during a routine check-up and at the end of treatment. The other adverse effects occurring were recorded at the end of the 3 months and analyzed.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Statistical analysis</title>
<p>SPSS statistics version 26 (IBM Corp.) was used for statistical analysis. Fischer&#x0027;s exact test was performed for ordinal and continuous data and the Mann-Whitney U test (between-groups) or the Wilcoxon test (within-group) (<xref rid="b3-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">3</xref>) was performed for continuous variables. P&#x003C;0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.</p>
</sec>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="Results">
<title>Results</title>
<sec>
<title/>
<sec>
<title>Study population</title>
<p>Patients from 37 to 73 years were included in analyses. Among 250 patients, 125 patients were male and 125 patients were female (1:1). There was no significant difference in the demographical characteristics and clinical conditions between the two cohorts at the time of admission (all P&#x003E;0.05). The demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients enrolled are provided in <xref rid="tI-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table">Table I</xref>.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Efficacy</title>
<p>Following 3 months of treatment, a significant reduction in IOP as compared with that at the start of treatment was obtained with TV (23.45&#x00B1;1.52 mmHg vs. 19.15&#x00B1;1.01 mmHg; P&#x003C;0.0001) and LT (23.93&#x00B1;2.11 mmHg vs. 19.45&#x00B1;1.11 mmHg; P&#x003C;0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in IOP values at the end of treatment between the two groups (19.15&#x00B1;1.01 mmHg vs. 19.45&#x00B1;1.11 mmHg; P=0.120; <xref rid="f4-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 4</xref>).</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Safety</title>
<p>Corrected visual acuity (P=0.936), visual field defect (P=0.367), and vertical cup to disc ratio (P=0.086) had no differences between the two groups at baseline. Following treatment for 3 months and a comparison between 3 months and the baseline, no adverse effects on visual acuity, visual field and the vertical cup to disc ratio were observed for TV and LT and the data were very similar between the two cohorts at 3 months (all P&#x003E;0.05; <xref rid="tII-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table">Table II</xref>). There was also no significant difference in the qualitative slit-lamp characteristics (all P&#x003E;0.05; <xref rid="tIII-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table">Table III</xref>), but non-slit-lamp characteristics, for example hyperemia, were significantly increased in each group after treatment (P&#x003C;0.0001 for both drugs; <xref rid="f5-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 5</xref>) but that there was no significant inter-group difference. In addition, there was no significant difference in corneal staining (0.81&#x00B1;0.05 vs. 0.83&#x00B1;0.10; P=0.078; <xref rid="f6-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 6</xref>) and conjunctival staining (3.11&#x00B1;0.08 vs. 3.08&#x00B1;0.15; P=0.081; <xref rid="f7-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="fig">Fig. 7</xref>) between the two groups at the end of treatment.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Treatment-emergent adverse effects</title>
<p>Discomfort and irritation in the eyes were commonly reported by patients during the 3 months of treatment. There were significantly more patients with dry eyes (P=0.020) who received TV treatment, while patients treated with LT had significantly more frequent eyelid swelling (P=0.036) and complaints of headache (P=0.037) following 3 months of treatment (<xref rid="tIV-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table">Table IV</xref>).</p>
</sec>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="Discussion">
<title>Discussion</title>
<p>The present retrospective study indicated that the evening doses of TV and LT controlled IOP at a similar level with no significant inter-group difference (P=0.120) following 3 months of treatment in patients with glaucoma. The results of IOP of the present study were consistent with those of previous open-label, prospective, non-randomized cohort studies (<xref rid="b13-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">13</xref>,<xref rid="b18-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">18</xref>), prospective randomized clinical trials (<xref rid="b19-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">19</xref>), a single-center, open-label trial (<xref rid="b14-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">14</xref>), a randomized crossover study (<xref rid="b20-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">20</xref>) and a prospective observational study (<xref rid="b21-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">21</xref>); however, they were not in agreement with those of prospective, cross-sectional studies (<xref rid="b7-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">7</xref>,<xref rid="b17-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">17</xref>). Comparisons over time are difficult to evaluate in a cross-sectional study (<xref rid="b22-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">22</xref>), as carry-over effects maybe reported in a cross-sectional study (<xref rid="b3-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">3</xref>,<xref rid="b17-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">17</xref>), which may be a possible reason for this discrepancy. The results of the present study are also in contrast to those of a cross-over randomized trial using morning doses of TV, as the IOP is higher in the morning compared with that in the evening (higher baseline untreated IOP) (<xref rid="b23-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">23</xref>). The present study identified that TV efficiently reduced IOP, and the efficacy was similar to that of LT.</p>
<p>The IOP is higher in the morning (<xref rid="b23-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">23</xref>) and a previous cross-sectional study reported that TV was more effective in the management of IOP alone compared with LT (<xref rid="b7-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">7</xref>) and with timolol (<xref rid="b12-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">12</xref>); however, the present study was performed using an evening dose, as the higher IOP values in the morning may cause a type I error in the analysis (<xref rid="b23-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">23</xref>). In addition, the manufacturers of TV (<xref rid="b15-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">15</xref>) and LT (<xref rid="b16-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">16</xref>) advise that the drops should be used in the evening in the management of glaucoma. The evening dose of prostaglandin analogues may provide exact effects to reduce the IOP.</p>
<p>The present study suggested that an evening dose of TV was as safe as LT during the 3-months of treatment for patients with glaucoma, which was consistent with the results of a previous prospective nonrandomized study (<xref rid="b1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>) and a retrospective multicenter review (<xref rid="b24-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">24</xref>). This indicates that the prostaglandin analogs TV and LT may have a similar safety profile.</p>
<p>In the present study, a comparatively larger proportion of patients receiving TV treatment experienced dry eyes, while patients with LT treatment had more eyelid swelling and headache following 3-months of treatment, while there was no difference in the frequency of discomfort, irritation and hyperemia between the groups. The results were consistent with those of a previous randomized controlled trial (<xref rid="b8-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">8</xref>), an open-label, prospective, non-randomized cohort study (<xref rid="b13-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">13</xref>), a double-blinded randomized trial (<xref rid="b9-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">9</xref>), a single-center, open-label trial (<xref rid="b14-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">14</xref>), and several randomized crossover studies (<xref rid="b12-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">12</xref>,<xref rid="b17-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">17</xref>,<xref rid="b20-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">20</xref>) and prospective observational studies (<xref rid="b18-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">18</xref>,<xref rid="b21-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">21</xref>). Of note, different prostaglandin analogs act on different inflammatory pathways (<xref rid="b1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>). Long-term follow-up is required to evaluate the adverse effects of treatment with prostaglandin analogs in the management of glaucoma.</p>
<p>According to the manufacturer, Icare<sup>&#x00AE;</sup> PRO is a high-precision tonometer; however, the present study used the Goldman Applanation Tonometer for measuring IOP. There is a lack of agreement regarding the accuracy of the Icare<sup>&#x00AE;</sup> PRO tonometer, while the reports for the Goldman Applanation Tonometer are consistent and provide an improved interpretation of the IOP-lowering effect of anti-glaucoma medication (<xref rid="b25-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">25</xref>). Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of their labeled devices used in experimental studies.</p>
<p>The present study is novel, as it provided a justification for the use of the Goldman Applanation Tonometer; the results are in contrast to those of a previous study (as discussed above regarding the evening dose) and the present study provides evidence for the preferred use of an evening dose. However, there are several limitations. For instance, the present study was a retrospective study with a relatively short duration and lacking a control group. A longitudinal study is required, as different prostaglandin analogs have a different time-span for peak action (<xref rid="b1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>). The follow-up period was relatively short and did not include the result of the visual field test of the patients. The interpretation of the IOP may be affected by the central corneal thickness; however, this was not considered in the present study.</p>
<p>In conclusion, the evening dose of TV and LT had the same efficacy and safety in the management of primary open-angle glaucoma with hyperemia (was significantly increased at 3 months vs. baseline, but there was no significant difference between the two drugs) and a relatively low frequency of manageable adverse effects following treatment. However, a large randomized trial is recommended to further support the present results.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<ack>
<title>Acknowledgements</title>
<p>Not applicable.</p>
</ack>
<sec>
<title>Funding</title>
<p>No funding received.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Availability of data and materials</title>
<p>The datasets used and analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Authors&#x0027; contributions</title>
<p>All authors read and approved the study prior to submission for publication. JL, as the project administrator, contributed measurement of data and their evaluation and resources, and performed checking of the results or internal/external data/analysis and literature review of the study. XW contributed to the methodology, supervision, software and literature review of the study. GX contributed to the investigation, resources, formal analysis and literature review of the study. RD contributed to formal analysis, data curation, resources and literature review of the study. LW contributed to supervision, data curation, validation and literature review of the study. LZ contributed to validation, supervision, software and literature review of the study. ZC contributed to software, formal analysis, data curation and literature review of the study and drafted, reviewed and edited the manuscript for intellectual content. The author agrees to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Ethics approval and consent to participate</title>
<p>The designed protocol (HMC/CL/14/19 dated 9 October 2019) of the present study was approved by the review board of Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital (Huizhou, China). The study adheres to the Law of China. Data of patients were collected from institute following written approval from Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, China. The patients included provided written informed consent for treatment during hospitalization.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Patient consent for publication</title>
<p>Not applicable.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<title>Competing interests</title>
<p>The authors declare that they have no competing interests.</p>
</sec>
<ref-list>
<title>References</title>
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<floats-group>
<fig id="f1-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 1</label>
<caption><p>Flow chart of the present study.</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g00.tif" />
</fig>
<fig id="f2-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 2</label>
<caption><p>Evaluation of hyperemia and conjunctival staining in6areas of the eye.</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g01.tif" />
</fig>
<fig id="f3-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 3</label>
<caption><p>Evaluation of corneal staining in5areas of the cornea.</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g02.tif" />
</fig>
<fig id="f4-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 4</label>
<caption><p>Intraocular pressure in the two groups at different time-points. Values are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation. <sup>&#x002A;</sup>P&#x003C;0.05 vs. BL. The mean of all three measurements &#x005B;morning (10 am), noon (2 pm) and evening (6 pm)&#x005D; was used for the analysis. BL, at the start of treatment during a routine check-up; EL, at the end of 3-months of the treatment; TV, travoprost; LT, latanoprost.</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g03.tif" />
</fig>
<fig id="f5-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 5</label>
<caption><p>Hyperemia in the two groups at different time-points. Values (staining intensity score) are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation. <sup>&#x002A;</sup>P&#x003C;0.05 vs. BL. Staining was scored as follows: 0, Absent; 1, mild staining; 2, moderate staining; and 3, severe staining (maximum possible). BL, at the start of treatment during a routine check-up; EL, at the end of 3-months of the treatment; TV, travoprost; LT, latanoprost.</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g04.tif" />
</fig>
<fig id="f6-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 6</label>
<caption><p>Results of corneal staining evaluation at the end of 3-months of treatment. Values (staining intensity score) are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation. Staining was scored as follows: 0, Absent; 1, mild staining; 2, moderate staining; and 3, severe staining (maximum possible).</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g05.tif" />
</fig>
<fig id="f7-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Figure 7</label>
<caption><p>Results of conjunctival staining evaluation at the end of 3-months of treatment. Values are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation. 0, Absent; 1, mild staining; 2, moderate staining; and 3, severe staining (maximum possible).</p></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="etm-20-05-09152-g06.tif" />
</fig>
<table-wrap id="tI-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Table I</label>
<caption><p>Demographic and clinicopathological and characteristics of the patients on admission.</p></caption>
<table frame="hsides" rules="groups">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left" valign="middle">Characteristic</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">TV group (n=89)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">LT group (n=161)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">P-value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Intraocular pressure (mmHg)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">23.45&#x00B1;1.52</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">23.93&#x00B1;2.11</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.060</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Age (years)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.459</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Range</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">37-72</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">41-73</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Mean</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">63.12&#x00B1;11.13</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">64.15&#x00B1;10.14</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Sex</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.792</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Male</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">43(48)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">82(51)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Female</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">46(52)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">79(49)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">History of visual complications (months)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">40.12&#x00B1;5.45</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">41.23&#x00B1;4.55</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.087</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Ethnicity</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.910</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Han Chinese</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">80(90)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">147(91)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Mongolian</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">8(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">12(8)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Tibetan</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1(1)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">2(1)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Diabetes</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">11(12)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">18(11)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.838</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Dyslipidemia</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">8(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">18(11)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.669</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Hypertension</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">8(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">13(8)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.815</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Migraine</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">15(17)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">25(16)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.857</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Smoking</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">7(19)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">5(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.122</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;&#x00A0;Family history of glaucoma</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">5(6)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">11(7)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.793</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn><p>Values are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation or n (&#x0025;). Fischer&#x0027;s exact test was performed for ordinal data and the Mann-Whitney U test was performed for numerical data. n indicates the number of eyes, for co-morbidity n does not indicate for eyes. TV, travoprost; LT, latanoprost.</p></fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
<table-wrap id="tII-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Table II</label>
<caption><p>Safety assessment.</p></caption>
<table frame="hsides" rules="groups">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle" colspan="3">TV group</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle" colspan="3">LT group</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="left" valign="middle">Item</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">BL (n=89)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">EL (n=89)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">P-value</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">BL (n=161)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">EL (n=161)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">P-value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Best-corrected visual acuity</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">9.25&#x00B1;1.88</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">9.24&#x00B1;1.81</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.971</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">9.27&#x00B1;1.89</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">9.26&#x00B1;1.88</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.962</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Visual field defect</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">-0.66&#x00B1;0.09</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">-0.67&#x00B1;0.10</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.484</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">-0.65&#x00B1;0.08</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">-0.66&#x00B1;0.09</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.293</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Vertical cup to disc ratio</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.61&#x00B1;0.03</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.62&#x00B1;0.04</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.061</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.62&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.63&#x00B1;0.06</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.105</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn><p>Values are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation. At present, there is no indication of a between-group comparison. The Wilcoxon test were performed for statistical analysis. n indicates the number of eyes. BL, at the start of treatment during a routine check-up; EL, at the end of 3 months of treatment; TV, travoprost; LT, latanoprost.</p></fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
<table-wrap id="tIII-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Table III</label>
<caption><p>Qualitative results of the slit-lamp examination.</p></caption>
<table frame="hsides" rules="groups">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left" valign="middle">&#x00A0;</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle" colspan="3">TV group</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle" colspan="3">LT group</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="left" valign="middle">Location</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">BL (n=89)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">EL (n=89)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">P-value</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">BL (n=161)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">EL (n=161)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">P-value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Eyelids</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.03&#x00B1;0.02</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.04&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.082</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.04&#x00B1;0.04</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.05&#x00B1;0.06</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.079</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Cornea</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.02&#x00B1;0.03</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.03&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.108</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.01&#x00B1;0.03</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.02&#x00B1;0.06</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.060</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Conjunctiva</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.03&#x00B1;0.03</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.04&#x00B1;0.04</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.061</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.04&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.05&#x00B1;0.09</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.219</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Iris</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.09&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.10&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.184</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.08&#x00B1;0.04</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.09&#x00B1;0.06</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.079</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Anterior chamber</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.02&#x00B1;0.04</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.03&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.142</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.06&#x00B1;0.06</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.07&#x00B1;0.07</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.170</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Lens</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.60&#x00B1;0.05</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.61&#x00B1;0.06</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.229</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.58&#x00B1;0.09</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1.59&#x00B1;0.10</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.346</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn><p>Values are expressed as the mean &#x00B1; standard deviation. 0, Absent; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe (maximum possible). At present, there is no indication of between-group comparison. The Wilcoxon test was performed for statistical analysis. n indicates the number of eyes. BL, at the start of treatment during a routine check-up; EL, at the end of 3-months of the treatment; TV, travoprost; LT, latanoprost.</p></fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
<table-wrap id="tIV-etm-0-0-09152" position="float">
<label>Table IV</label>
<caption><p>Treatment-emergent adverse effects after 3 months.</p></caption>
<table frame="hsides" rules="groups">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left" valign="middle">Adverse effect</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">TV (n=89)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">LT (n=161)</th>
<th align="center" valign="middle">P-value</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Eye pain</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">8(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">7(4)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.167</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Change in color of the iris</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">4(4)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">11(7)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.583</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Eye discomfort</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">12(13)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">15(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.192</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Dry eye</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">11(12)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">8(5)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.020<sup><xref rid="tfn1-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table-fn">a</xref></sup></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Itching in eye</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">4(4)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">7(4)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.999</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Irritation in eye</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">5(6)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">16(10)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.341</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Eyelid swelling</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1(1)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">12(7)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.036<sup><xref rid="tfn2-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table-fn">b</xref></sup></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Skin rash</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">1(1)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">5(3)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.426</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Headache</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">2(2)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">15(9)</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">0.037<sup><xref rid="tfn2-etm-0-0-09152" ref-type="table-fn">b</xref></sup></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn id="tfn1-etm-0-0-09152"><p><sup>a</sup>Significant side effect of TV.</p></fn>
<fn id="tfn2-etm-0-0-09152"><p><sup>b</sup>Significant side effect of LT. Values are expressed as n (&#x0025;). Fischer&#x0027;s exact test was performed for statistical analysis. n indicates the number of reported adverse-effect; TV, travoprost; LT, latanoprost.</p></fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
</floats-group>
</article>
