Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) Assessment During Dual Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) Lucentis Evaluations — PADDLE  

Retinal Vein Occlusion Clinical Trial

Official title: Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) Assessment During Dual RVO Lucentis Evaluations (PADDLE Study)

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This is a study of subjects with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) specifically looking at the difference in outcomes between patients with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and those without PVD. Posterior vitreous detachment is a condition where the gel-like substance that occupies the space between the retina and the lens of the eye liquefies and separates from the retina. 20 subjects from Barnes Retina Institute will be enrolled in this study. Based on a pre-treatment ultrasound (a test utilizing high-frequency sound waves to look at the inside of the eye), high resolution OCT (a noninvasive procedure called optical coherence tomography to check the thickness of your retina) and clinical exam, subjects will be assigned to one of 2 groups at baseline: Group 1 will be those with PVD and Group 2 will be those without PVD. Then subjects will receive monthly intravitreal (inside the eye) injections of Ranibizumab.

Clinical Trial Description

Several retinovascular diseases have been shown to be VEGF dependent including retinal vein occlusion, wet age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. The role of the vitreous or composition of the vitreous cavity has been examined in diabetic retinopathy on many occasions in the past and clinically it has been felt that a posterior vitreous separation leads a quieting and involution of diabetic retinopathy, both proliferative as well as pre-proliferative retinopathy. This clinical observation has never had any basic science data to support it. However, it has recently been shown that in cat eyes with posterior vitreous separation the vitreous cavity has a much lower VEGF concentration than in cat eyes with an attached posterior vitreous. This may be due to the fact that flow of oxygen from the retinal vasculature is increased by PVD. Vitreous oxygen levels are inversely associated with vitreous VEGF levels. As oxygen tension increases, VEGF levels will decline. This suggests if higher amounts of VEGF are present in the eye without PVD perhaps a powerful anti-VEGF drug, such as ranibizumab, may be of greater benefit to treat VEGF dependent retinovascular disease. To try and answer this question clinically, we have suggested that an analysis of the vitreous status in treatment naive eyes with retinal vein occlusion beginning ranibizumab therapy be undertaken to see if eyes without a posterior vitreous separation would achieve greater improvement in vision and a return to more normal retinal physiology compared to eyes with a posterior vitreous separation. No study has assessed PVDs in RVO patients receiving potential treatment. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Dissociative Disorders
• Posterior Vitreous Detachment
• Retinal Vein Occlusion
• Vitreous Detachment

• NCT number: NCT00831350
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Barnes Retina Institute
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: April 2009
• Completion date: December 2012