Effect of Pregnancy on Uveitis

NCT00001867 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 99017999-EI-0179
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to gain information about the course of uveitis (a type of eye inflammation) during pregnancy and the postpartum period (six months after delivery). Some reports have indicated the condition may improve or disappear without treatment during pregnancy and recur postpartum, requiring treatment. No systematic studies have been done, however, to examine a link between pregnancy and disease suppression. All medicines for uveitis have side effects-particularly for pregnant women, their unborn babies, and breast-feeding mothers. The information gained may help guide treatment decisions for these patients in the future. Women who are between 2 and 20 weeks pregnant and have had uveitis within 2 years of becoming pregnant will be followed monthly with an eye examination and blood tests until six months after giving birth. The eye examination will include dilation of the pupils to look at the back of the eye. Photos of the eye will be taken to record changes that occur due to uveitis. The blood tests will assess immune function and try to determine whether levels of hormones and cytokines are related to uveitis disease activity. Patients who develop an inflammation and significant vision loss may require treatment, possibly with eye drops or injections near the eye. Treatment will be decided in consultation with the patient's obstetrician.

Conditions

Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Uveitis

Keywords

Cytokine; Gestation; Postpartum; Pregnancy; Th 1 Lymphocyte; Th 2 Lymphocyte; Uveitis

Eligibility Criteria

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

Females with a history of unilateral or bilateral immune-mediated, non-infectious inflammatory ocular disease that required topical and/or systemic immunosuppresive medications at least once in the past two years or who are currently under treatment for unilateral or bilateral non-infectious ocular inflammation and having diagnosed uveitis, scleritis, or autoimmune corneal disorders in the past two years. First and second trimester pregnancy. Informed consent from the patient. No pregnancy complications which require medical treatment and special obstetric care. No hematolgical disorder that would preclude blood draws for investigational purposes. No current ocular or systemic infection. No current malignancy. No current endocrine disorders.

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Eye Institute (NEI): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Wegmann TG, Lin H, Guilbert L, Mosmann TR. Bidirectional cytokine interactions in the maternal-fetal relationship: is successful pregnancy a TH2 phenomenon? Immunol Today. 1993 Jul;14(7):353-6. doi: 10.1016/0167-5699(93)90235-D.

  PMID: 8363725 BACKGROUND

• Raghupathy R. Th1-type immunity is incompatible with successful pregnancy. Immunol Today. 1997 Oct;18(10):478-82. doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(97)01127-4.

  PMID: 9357139 BACKGROUND

• Raghupathy R. Maternal anti-placental cell-mediated reactivity and spontaneous abortions. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1997 Jun;37(6):478-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1997.tb00263.x.

  PMID: 9228305 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Uveitis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Uveal Diseases; Eye Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Posted: December 10, 2002
• Study Start: September 1, 1999
• Study Completion: September 1, 2000
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 1999-09

Locations

US (1)