Association of Gabapentin or Pregabalin Use and Incidence of Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma

PURPOSE

• To determine the association of gabapentin or pregabalin use and the incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Nested case-control study

RESULTS

• Incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma was found to be statistically significantly associated with the use of gabapentin in the year before diagnosis [relative risk (RR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-2.00].
• This association was not observed to be statistically significant with the current use of gabapentin (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.77-2.12).
• Incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma (AAG) was not found to be statistically significantly associated with either use of pregabalin in the year before diagnosis or current use (RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.51-1.93 and RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.66-3.38, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS 

• Gabapentin use in the year before diagnosis was found to be associated with the incidence of AAG.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

• In this nested case-control study, incidence of AAG was found to be associated with the use of gabapentin in the year before diagnosis.
• No association between pregabalin use and the incidence of AAG was found to be demonstrated.
• Author hypothesize that the mechanism of acute angle closure associated with gabapentin use is similar to that described of topiramate with respects to ciliary body displacement.
• As such, physicians and patients should be aware of the potential aforementioned association.

REFERENCE

J Glaucoma 2019;28:777–779