Cyclosporin Implant to Treat Uveitis

NCT00001737 | Completed Phase 1

• 2 other identifiers: 98011098-EI-0110
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a sustained-release cyclosporin implant to treat uveitis, a sight-threatening eye inflammation caused by an immune system abnormality. Previous studies in humans have shown that, taken by mouth, the drug cyclosporin is effective in treating chronic uveitis. Uveitis may require long-term treatment with potent immune-suppressing drugs, such as cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, azathioprine or steroids. Taken systemically (by mouth or injection), however, these drugs can do serious damage to the kidneys, liver or lungs, and can raise blood pressure and lower blood cell counts. Because of this, some patients cannot or will not use these medicines. This small pilot study will evaluate the safety, and to some extent effectiveness, of cyclosporin delivered directly into the eye, to try to prevent harmful side effects. In animal studies, sustained-release cyclosporin implants did not cause the severe side effects seen with systemic use of the drug. Some animals developed opacity of the lens and slowed retinal responses, both of which reversed when the drug was stopped. Earlier animal studies of cyclosporin injected directly into the eye reduced inflammation that had been produced experimentally. Patients with uveitis who have active inflammation and poor vision are eligible to participate in this study. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group will receive a 1-mg implant that releases 0.8 micrograms of drug each day; the second group will receive a 2-mg implant that delivers 1.4 micrograms of drug a day. Before surgery, patients will have a medical history, basic physical examination, and complete eye examination, including special tests called electroretinogram and fluorescein angiography. An electroretinogram measures the electrical responses generated in the retina in the back of the eye. Fluorescein angiography uses a special camera to photograph the retina, showing the condition of the blood vessels in the eye. The surgical procedure to place the implant takes about 1.5 hours and may be done under either local or general anesthesia. Patients will stay in the hospital overnight. After discharge from the hospital, they will return for follow-up visits 1 and 2 weeks after surgery, then once a month for 6 months, and then every 3 months until the implant is depleted of drug or removed. During these follow-up visits, eye examinations will be repeated to evaluate the effects of the implant on the eye. Repeat blood tests will measure the amount of cyclosporin in the blood and the drug's effect on the kidneys. When the implant runs out of drug (between 2 and 3 years), it may be removed or left in place.

Conditions

Eye Disease; Inflammation; Uveitis

Keywords

Eye; Immunosuppression; Inflammation; Therapy; Vitreous; Uveitis

Interventions

Cyclosporin A Implant DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age range: 15 or older.
• Active non-infectious intermediate, posterior or panuveitis present for at least 6 months despite systemic immunosupressive therapy including at least 20 mg of oral prednisone or use of another immunosuppressive agent.
• Visual acuity worse than 20/80 (55 letters) and better than 5/200 (4 letters) in the eye to receive the CsA implant, and better than 20/80 (54 letters) in the non-study eye.
• Bilateral or unilateral uveitis with active inflammation in one eye only (eye to be implanted). Patients may continue systemic immunosuppressants with the exception of systemic CsA. Patients may not take greater than 1 drop of topical steroid four times a day in the eye to be implanted for maintenance of anterior segment inflammation after 1 month postoperatively.
• Recordable electroretinogram (ERG).
• Willingness and the ability, with assistance of a care giver, if necessary, to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures.
• The ability to understand and sign an informed consent form which must be obtained prior to treatment.
• Negative serum pregnancy test (females of childbearing potential only).
• Normal serum creatinine (males 0.9 - 1.4 mg/dL, females 0.7 - 1.3 mg/dL).
• No current or past history of retinal detachment.

You may not qualify if:

• Current or past history of retinal detachment.
• Pregnant or lactating patients or patients with potential for conception unless using effective contraception. Fertile males must use effective contraception. Contraception would no longer be mandatory for participation in this study at three months postoperatively assuming (1) negligible CsA absorption, (2) patient is not taking any other medications that may affect a developing fetus or spermatogenesis.
• Patients who received therapy within the previous one week with any nephrotoxic drugs.
• Patients having a known allergy to CsA.
• Patients receiving current therapy with CsA. Patients need to be off of systemic CsA seven days prior to implant surgery. Patients may continue other immunosuppressive therapies if needed to control inflammation in contralateral (non-study) eye provided the inflammation is currently not active.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Eye Institute (NEI): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Pearson PA, Jaffe GJ, Martin DF, Cordahi GJ, Grossniklaus H, Schmeisser ET, Ashton P. Evaluation of a delivery system providing long-term release of cyclosporine. Arch Ophthalmol. 1996 Mar;114(3):311-7. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1996.01100130307014.

  PMID: 8600892 BACKGROUND

• Whitcup SM, Salvo EC Jr, Nussenblatt RB. Combined cyclosporine and corticosteroid therapy for sight-threatening uveitis in Behcet's disease. Am J Ophthalmol. 1994 Jul 15;118(1):39-45. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)72840-5.

  PMID: 8023874 BACKGROUND

• Smith TJ, Pearson PA, Blandford DL, Brown JD, Goins KA, Hollins JL, Schmeisser ET, Glavinos P, Baldwin LB, Ashton P. Intravitreal sustained-release ganciclovir. Arch Ophthalmol. 1992 Feb;110(2):255-8. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1992.01080140111037.

  PMID: 1310588 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Eye Diseases; Inflammation; Uveitis

Interventions

Cyclosporine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Uveal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cyclosporins; Peptides, Cyclic; Macrocyclic Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Peptides; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Posted: November 4, 1999
• Study Start: May 1, 1998
• Study Completion: March 1, 2004
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2004-03

Locations

US (1)