Latanoprost-Induced Side Effects and Potential Mechanisms

Abstract

Latanoprost (13,16dihydro15R17-phenyl18,1 9,20-trinor-PGF2, isopropyl ester) is a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin Fza developed by Pharmacia and Upjohn as a glaucoma treatment. Since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August, 1996, multiple published reports have linked a variety of side effects to the use of the drug, some of which are not listed in the original package insert. This review summarizes current understanding of latanoprost-induced side effects and explores potential mechanisms involved in causing these effects based on the available data on this class of medication from basic science and clinical re search.