Strategies for Management of Corneal Neovascularisation

Corneal Neovascularisation Clinical Trial

Official title:

Management of Active and Established Corneal Neovascularisation to Prevent Visual Impairment

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02594423
• Other study ID #: 15070
• Secondary ID: 2015-003180-11
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: Phase 4
• First received: October 27, 2015
• Last updated: December 1, 2015
• Start date: December 2015
• Est. completion date: August 2018

Study information

• Verified date: December 2015
• Source: University of Nottingham
• Contact: Harminder S Dua, Professor
• Phone: +44 (0) 115970 9796
• Email: harminder.dua[@]nottingham.ac.uk
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United Kingdom: Research Ethics CommitteeUnited Kingdom: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The cornea is the transparent window of the eye, which allows light to enter into the eye and also contributes to the focusing of the light rays. One of the major factors responsible for its transparency is the lack of blood vessels. However, following inflammation new blood vessels (corneal vascularisation [CVas]) grow into the cornea affecting its transparency and impairing vision. CVas leads to further damage in the form of scarring,oedema,fat deposition and is a major cause of corneal graft rejection.

In 2000 with ethical approval (OY129801) the investigators developed and published a clinical technique called Fine Needle Diathermy occlusion of corneal vessels (FND). This has proven very successful for occluding established vessels and is practiced in many centers across the world. Recently it has been demonstrated that by inhibiting a chemical stimulant of vessel formation called vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) active new vessel growth in the retina can be suppressed. The approach is also being used for corneal new vessels. Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a chemical inhibitor of VEGF and is used extensively to treat retinal new vessels in macular degeneration. Avastin has been shown to be effective and safe in treating corneal new vessels. The investigators propose to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FND alone and FND combined with Avastin in treatment of CVas.

Description:

Corneal neovascularisation is a very common problem affecting both sexes at all ages and induced by differing underlying causes. It is considered to be the single most important risk factor for graft rejection. The process of angiogenesis, i.e. the formation of new blood vessels, is similar in any part of the body. Hence principles adopted to alleviate new blood vessels in one area can be applied to blood vessels in other areas using similar drugs.

Over the past 8 years a component necessary for angiogenesis, i.e Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been targeted to induce regression of blood vessels in patients with cancer with an intravenous dosage of an anti-VEGF.

More recently, anti-VEGF therapies have targeted eye related neovascularisation, especially in the treatment of age related macular degeneration. This role has been expanded to include all other structures in the eye affected by angiogenesis such as neovascular glaucoma(Iris) and diabetic retinopathy(Retina).

Over the past few years attention has been drawn to the use of antiVEGF therapies to the surface of the eye. Many reports in international peer reviewed literature have commented on the use of anti VEGF therapy in the form of drops or injections on the surface of the eye, subconjunctivally and within the cornea. They have found drops and injections are safe, although injections appear to act more favourably. Avastin has been investigated for treating corneal new vessels and was proved to be both safe and effective.

Fine needle diathermy (FND) is a routine method for occluding corneal vessels that was developed in our department in 2000 and is used worldwide. It has been established that this technique is suitable for active and mature vessels.

However, the consequent transient tissue injury and inflammation can trigger further new vessel formation. Avastin is effective in occlusion of the active vessels only.It does not affect the established mature vessels. Hence if FND is combined with Avastin it is expected and hypothesized that a more efficient and lasting occlusion of vessels will be obtained. In this study, the investigators aim to investigate the combined action of Avastin and fine needle diathermy in occlusion of corneal vessels. The actual incidence of corneal neovascularisation in the UK is unknown but American studies suggest up to 1.4 million people are affected with sight threatening complications on annual basis. These blood vessels arise from a multitude of causes, including viral infections, corneal injuries, chronic inflammation and as a result of corneal transplantation. Conventional therapies at the present time include surgical occlusion of the blood vessels with a diathermy or laser or chronic use of steroids. The latter option is a associated with potential sight threatening complications such as glaucoma.

This study will generate data to inform further controlled studies towards establishing Avastin and fine needle diathermy as the treatment of choice for corneal new vessels.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: August 2018
• Est. primary completion date: August 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients over the age of 18

• Able to give informed consent

• With corneal neovascularisation non responsive or not suitable for conventional steroid therapy

• Use of effective contraception in females of childbearing age

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients under 18 years of age

• Patients unable or refusing to provide informed consent

• Patients who are needle phobic

• Pregnant women, women aiming for conception and breastfeeding women

• Patients with hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients

• Patients with active or suspected ocular or periocular infections.

• Patients with active severe intraocular inflammation.

• Patients with raised intraocular pressure or on glaucoma medication

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Corneal Neovascularisation
• Corneal Neovascularization
• Neovascularization, Pathologic

Intervention

Device:
• Fine Needle Diathermy
Fine needle diathermy is a surgical procedure that is used in the treatment of corneal NV. It is a safe and effective method for corneal vessels occlusion.

Drug:
• Bevacizumab
Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to isoforms of VEGF-A .

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Nottingham

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Decreased corneal neovascularisation	A comparison of total vascularisation of the corneal area as measured by our grading system (Faraj LA et al, 2015) before and after treatment.	6 months	No
Secondary	Improved/maintained Snellen's visual acuity	Visual acuity is assessed using Snellen chart and vision is expressed in LOGMAR units	10 months	No
Secondary	Decreased corneal opacity related to lipid deposition	The response to treatment will be judged clinically by biomicroscopy examination and quantitatively by comparison with pre-treatment slit lamp photographs. The comparison of the pre and post treatment slit lamp images will be done by two independent blind reviewers.	10 months	No
Secondary	Reduced episodes of graft rejection(in corneal graft patients)	Number of rejection episodes will be recorded	10 months	No