Liposomal form of Dexamethasone in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis: Clinical and Immunological Effects

The effectiveness of liposomal dexamethasone in experimental autoimmune uveitis in rabbits was studied. An original liposomal form of dexamethasone and its official aqueous solution were compared. The liposomal composition consisted of vesicles 124 +/- 6 mm in size with an active substance concentration of 4 mg/mL. The official aqueous solution of dexamethasone was used in the positive control group. The study was performed on chinchilla rabbits with an endotoxin-induced anterior uveitis model. The animals were divided into three groups: control (untreated), treatment with water-soluble dexamethasone, and treatment with the liposomal form of dexamethasone. The drugs were administered once subconjunctivally at the peak of clinical manifestations of uveitis. The clinical presentation and scoring criterion for the severity of uveitis and some hematological and immunological parameters were assessed. The severity of clinical symptoms of uveitis decreased during the treatment. There were no significant differences between the clinical efficacies of the studied drugs 72 hours after the start of therapy. There was a more pronounced clinical improvement and a decrease in systemic inflammation in the liposomal dexamethasone group on the 10th day after the start of therapy.