Immune Indicators of Uveitis
Completed
Conditions studied: GITR, GITR Ligand, Uveitis, Immunosuppression, Suppressor of Cytokine Secretion
In brief
This study will try to identify markers of immune activity in uveitis patients that correlate with the state of disease activity. Uveitis is a group of inflammatory eye diseases that can cause vision loss. The study will examine whether certain substances in the blood can predict a reactivation of disease before it occurs, and how therapy may influence the activity of these substances. Previous studies have found some possible markers called GITR (glucocorticoid induced TNF related family receptor), SOCS (suppressors of cytokine secretion), and interleukin-15. Markers such as these may help guide physicians in safely tapering medicines in uveitis patients. Patients 18 years of age and older with sight-threatening uveitis may be eligible for this study. Participants are slowly tapered off their medicines when their disease is stable and there is no evidence of significant inflammation. If the disease remains inactive during tapering, all drug therapy is eventually stopped. Patients have eye examinations about every 1 to 3 months when the disease is quiet and every 2 to 4 weeks during flare-ups. Blood samples are drawn 2 to 3 times a year. In addition, patients may have the following procedures if needed: * Eye photography: Eye drops are given to enlarge the pupils for a thorough eye examination, and a special camera is used to take photographs. * Fluorescein angiography: This test checks for abnormalities of eye blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken with a special camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating possible abnormalities.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00089739
- Run by
- National Eye Institute (NEI)
- People needed
- 100
- Starts
- 2004-08-09
- Expected to finish
- 2008-10-28
- Last updated by the study team
- 2017-07-02
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may not qualify if…
- Subjects will not be able to enroll if they:
- Are unwilling or unable to give blood at the designated times in the protocol.
- Have another disease or condition affecting vision that will interfere with obtaining study data
- Are pregnant
Where it is running
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike — Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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