Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant for the Treatment of Persistent Diabetic Macular Edema

Completed · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Diabetic Macular Edema

In brief

Laser photocoagulation and intravitreal anti-vascular growth factor injections are commonly used treatment options for individuals with diabetic macular edema. However, some patients continue to experience persistent diabetic macular edema and poor vision despite continued laser and/or anti-vegf therapy. Recent clinical trials suggest that due to inflammatory mediators dexamethasone intravitreal implant (0.7mg) may be a good alternative therapy for individuals unresponsive to laser photocoagulation or intravitreal anti-vascular growth factor injections. The purpose of this research study is to compare the effectiveness of using a dexamethasone steroid implant versus monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for research participants with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02471651

Run by

California Retina Consultants

People needed

40

Starts

2015-06-01

Expected to finish

2018-10-24

Last updated by the study team

2019-02-19

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Able to provide written informed consent and comply with study assessments for the full duration of the study.
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or 2)
• Any one of the following will be considered to be sufficient evidence that diabetes is present:
• Current regular use of insulin for treatment of diabetes
• Current regular use of oral anti-hyperglycemia agent for the treatment of diabetes
• Clinical evidence of retinal thickening due to macular edema involving the center of the macula associated with diabetic retinopathy.
• Previous history of anti-vegf treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) with documented incomplete resolution of central subfield thickening by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). At least 4 intravitreal anti-vegf injections within the past six months prior to the baseline study visit are required for eligibility.
• Central diabetic macular edema present on clinical examination and SDOCT testing with central 1 mm subfield thickness greater than 300 microns as measured on SDOCT at the baseline visit.
• Visual acuity score greater than or equal to 19 letters (20/400) and less than or equal to 74 letters (20/32) by the ETDRS visual acuity protocol.
• Media clarity, pupillary dilation and patient cooperation sufficient to allow SDOCT testing and retinal photography.

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test) or known to be pregnant; also pre-menopausal women not using adequate contraception.
• Participation in another ocular investigation or trial simultaneously
• Blood pressure > 180/110 mmHg (systolic above 180 OR diastolic above 110 mmHg)
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study (e.g. chronic alcoholism, drug abuse)
• Evidence of vitreoretinal interface abnormality after ocular exam or OCT that may be contributing to the macular edema
• An eye that, in the investigator's opinion, has no chance of improving in visual acuity following resolution of macular edema (e.g. presence of subretinal fibrosis or geographic atrophy)
• Presence of another ocular condition that may affect the visual acuity or macular edema during the course of the study (e.g. AMD, uveitis, Irvine-Gass)
• Evidence of active neovascularization of the iris or retina
• Evidence of central atrophy or fibrosis in the study eye
• Presence of substantial cataract, one that might decrease the vision by 3 or more lines of vision at sometime during the study.
• History of vitreous surgery in the study eye
• History of cataract surgery within 3 months of enrollment.
• History of YAG capsulotomy within 2 months of enrollment.
• Visual acuity <20/400 on ETDRS visual acuity charts in the fellow eye
• Uncontrolled glaucoma (pressure > 30 mmHg) despite treatment with glaucoma medications.
• History of cerebral vascular accident or myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to Day 0.
• Use of systemic steroids (eg, oral, intravenous, intramuscular, epidural, rectal, or extensive dermal) within one month prior to the baseline study visit

Where it is running

• California Retina Consultants — Bakersfield, California, United States
• California Retina Consultants — Oxnard, California, United States
• California Retina Consultants — Santa Barbara, California, United States
• California Retina Consultants — Santa Maria, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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