View clinical trials related to Retinitis.
Filter by:Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a collective term for a group of inherited retinal dystrophies that are a major cause of irreversible blindness. RP of some type occurs in approximately 1 out of 3500 persons in the United States(1). Gene mutations are responsible for the majority of RP. To date, mutations have been identified in 30 different genes linked to RP(2). The visual prognosis of RP is poor, since the gradual but relentless visual field loss leads eventually to some degree of blindness(3). Although no effective treatment for RP has been identified, participants supplemented with a daily oral dose of 15,000 IU vitamin A palmitate have shown, on average, a slower rate of deterioration of retinal function when the intervention is continued over several years(4). The purpose of this research is to determine whether administration of high oral doses of vitamin A can acutely improve cone photoreceptor function in RP participants as measured by electroretinography (ERG). In this interventional, non-randomized, prospective, pilot study, 5 participants will receive a daily oral dose of 50,000 IU of vitamin A palmitate for 4 weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of 15,000 IU daily for the subsequent 2 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome is a relative percentage change in ERG response amplitude subsequent to vitamin A supplementation. A secondary efficacy outcome is a relative percentage change in implicit time from pre- to post- vitamin A supplementation, with improvement specified as a shorter response implicit time. Other secondary outcomes will be improvements in visual field (Humphery, 10-2; sum of thresholds). Safety outcomes include visual fields, ETDRS visual acuity, intraocular pressure, serum vitamin A level and liver function tests.
This study will evaluate the safety of a ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) implant placed in the eye to allow the release of CNTF directly on the retina. The results of this study may lead to a larger investigation of CNTF implants to treat retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive degenerative eye disease that begins with loss of peripheral vision and night blindness and often leads to blindness in later life. Currently, there are no effective treatments for RP. Researchers have found, however, that certain proteins, called ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), can partially protect cells in the eye if given directly inside the eye. A major challenge in treating RP is to deliver medicine directly into the eye. One way to ensure that CNTF gets into the eye is to surgically place an implant inside the eye to release the protein. Patients 18 years of age and older with retinitis pigmentosa whose visual acuity is 20/100 or worse may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, eye examinations, and eye photographs. The eye examination includes measurement of visual acuity and eye pressure, examination of the pupils and eye movements, and examination of the lens and back of the eye. In addition, patients will have the following tests: - Visual field test: Patients look at a central spot on a white screen and tell the examiner whenever they see a small light appear at other places on the screen. - Electroretinogram (ERG): Electrodes are taped to the patient's forehead. Special contact lenses are placed on the eyes, similar to normal contact lenses, after the eye has been numbed with drops. The contact lenses sense small electrical signals generated by the retina. The ERG measures the electrical activity of the retina when it is stimulated by light. For the ERG recording, the patient looks inside a large, hollow, dark sphere, and sees flashes of light, first in the dark, and then with a light turned on in the sphere. - Optical coherence tomography: This test, done with the machine used to examine the eye, measures retinal thickness by producing cross-sectional pictures of the retina. Participants undergo surgery at the NIH Clinical Center in a 30-minute operation to place the implant in one eye. The surgery is done under local anesthetic. Before the procedure, patients are given a steroid injection along side the eye to minimize inflammation after surgery. Following the procedure, patients return for follow-up visits once a month for 6 months. At these visits, several of the exams described above are repeated to evaluate treatment effects and check for adverse side effects. After 6 months, the implant is surgically removed. Post-surgical care for both implant and explant surgeries include examinations the day and week after surgery to examine the wound, a high dose of steroid immediately after surgery, oral antibiotics for 7 days, and eye drops for 1 week to prevent infection and inflammation.
Phase I/II double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial to determine effects of lutein on vision in retinitis pigmentosa, including safety and effective dosage assessment
The purpose of this study is to understand how changes in the immune system of HIV-infected patients affect their risk for 3 serious infections: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, or CMV organ disease. The purpose also is to understand how anti-HIV medicines may improve the immune system in these patients. (This purpose reflects a change in the AIDS-related [opportunistic] infections studied.) Presently, HIV-infected patients who have had PCP or CMV disease stay on lifelong therapy to prevent the return of the disease. This study is trying to see if a special lab test can help identify which patients can stop this preventive therapy without having another episode of PCP or CMV organ disease. (This rationale reflects a change in the AIDS-related infections studied.)
OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the potential of nutritional docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation to normalize the level of DHA in red blood cells, and to retard the progression of visual function loss in patients with early stage X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.
OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous cidofovir in patients with small peripheral cytomegalovirus retinitis. II. Obtain safety and efficacy data related to different dosages of cidofovir.
To determine whether cidofovir (HPMPC) therapy administered by intravenous infusion can extend the time to progression of peripheral cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients. To evaluate the safety and tolerance of HPMPC therapy when administered by intravenous infusion in AIDS patients with CMV retinitis that is not immediately sight-threatening. To evaluate the virologic effects of intravenous HPMPC therapy on CMV shedding in urine, blood, and/or semen. To evaluate the impact of HPMPC therapy on visual acuity.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of foscarnet induction therapy for treatment of AIDS patients experiencing their first episode of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of foscarnet maintenance therapy for treatment of AIDS patients experiencing CMV retinitis.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of RS-79070 when used as induction therapy in patients with newly diagnosed peripheral retinitis. To assess the effects of induction and maintenance level dosing of RS-79070 on CMV viral load, estimated by plasma CMV PCR. To assess the pharmacokinetics of ganciclovir following administration of RS-79070 in the target population.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ISIS 2922 in AIDS patients with Cytomegalovirus ( CMV ) retinitis who are unresponsive or intolerant to ganciclovir and/or foscarnet but are otherwise ineligible for ISIS Pharmaceuticals' controlled trials OR who have failed ISIS 2922 therapy on another controlled clinical trial. PER 2/8/96 AMENDMENT: Patients must rollover from another ISIS 2922 controlled trial.