Cutaneous Prostaglandin Application: Nail Growth, Nail Brittleness, and Eye Pressure

Northwestern University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Intraocular Pressure; Nail Growth Cessation

Treatments: Drug: Bimatoprost 0.01%; Other: Placebo: saline

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT02448043

STU00200526

Details and patient eligibility

About

Topical prostaglandin agents are used to help reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients. Bimatoprost (Lumigan 0.01%) is such an agent (Allergan, Inc.). Several of our patients on bimatoprost and an observational study of patients on bimatoprost in another center reported that fingernails grew longer and became less brittle using the topical eye drops to the eyes. The purpose of the double-blinded study is to determine whether the application of the eye drops directly to the proximal nail fold of one hand using the opposite hand as a control will result in longer nails, less brittle nails, and reduced eye pressures should any of the medication be absorbed into the systemic circulation.

Full description

In addition to our observations with topical bimatoprost on fingernail growth, Wand and colleagues applied bimatoprost to the base of the fingernails demonstrating a 16.9% increase in fingernail growth from baseline, and a 10.4% increase from baseline on untreated nail beds. Other than these two reports, there are no studies addressing this topic to our knowledge based on a Medline search for off-label use of this drug. Other relevant studies have addressed increased hair and eyelash growth with the prostaglandin agents. Researching the biochemistry of the relationship of prostaglandins to hair and nail growth, the final common pathway appears to be with protein kinase C and the production of tropocollagens. The dermatology literature has demonstrated that both hair and nail keratocytes reside in the nail bed suggesting that increased collagen production may enhance the growth of both the nail bed and nail plate, possibly reducing nail brittleness.

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• English speaking
• Normotensive or glaucoma suspects on no ocular medications
• No manicure within 2 weeks of the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals on topical or systemic essential fatty acids (EFA's) in hand lotions, creams, ointments, or medication, or on biotin.
• Digits with signs of nail injury, deformity, or infection.
• Nail biters, nail polishers, artificial nail wear or gels, and nail and trimming and filing until the study endpoint.
• Women of childbearing age who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant.
• Individuals with allergies or sensitivity to prostaglandin agents.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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45 participants in 2 patient groups

Right Hand Bimatoprost 0.01% drops, Left Hand Placebo

Other group

Description:

* Bimatoprost 0.01% drops placed on the proximal nail folds of the right hand digits two times per day for 30 days. * Saline solution drops placed on the proximal nail folds of the left hand digits two times per day for 30 days.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo: saline

Drug: Bimatoprost 0.01%

Left Hand Bimatoprost 0.01% drops, Right Hand Placebo

Other group

Description:

* Bimatoprost 0.01% drops placed on the proximal nail folds of the left hand digits two times per day for 30 days. * Saline solution drops placed on the proximal nail folds of the right hand digits two times per day for 30 days.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo: saline

Drug: Bimatoprost 0.01%