Treatment of Non-infectious Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis Associated Macular Edema With Intravitreal Methotrexate

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified October 2012 by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) ( National Eye Institute (NEI) )
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01314417
First received: March 11, 2011
Last updated: May 1, 2013
Last verified: October 2012
  Purpose

Background:

- Uveitis comprises of a group of diseases associated with inflammation of the eye that can lead to vision loss. Some people with uveitis also have macular edema (swelling of the retina at the back of the eye). Uveitis and macular edema are treated with medications and sometimes surgery, but treatment does not always prevent vision loss. Previous research has shown that injections of methotrexate into the eye of people with eye disease other than uveitis can help relieve the inflammation, or swelling, that causes macular edema and can slow visual loss. However, it has not yet been approved as a treatment for macular edema associated with uveitis.

Objectives:

- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of methotrexate injections as a treatment for macular edema associated with uveitis.

Eligibility:

- Individuals at least 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with uveitis and macular edema in at least one eye.

Design:

  • This study requires at least nine visits to the National Eye Institute study clinic over a period of 6 months (24 weeks).
  • Participants will be screened with a full physical and ophthalmic examination, a medical history, blood and urine tests, and additional eye and other tests as needed.
  • Participants will receive a methotrexate injection in a selected treatment eye. After the injection, participants will receive antibiotic eye drops to place in the eye three times a day for the 3 days following the injection, leucovorin (folic acid) drops to place in the eye four times a day for 1 week following the injection, and a dose of folic acid to be taken by mouth the day after the injection.
  • Participants who tolerate the initial injection may continue to receive injections in their study eye every month for 6 months. After 6 months, participants who show improvement from the injections may be evaluated to receive additional injections every 4 to 8 weeks until researchers end the study.

Condition Intervention Phase
Non-infectious Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis
Drug: Methotrexate
Phase 1
Phase 2

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Treatment of Non-infectious Panuveitis, Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis Associated Macular Edema With Intravitreal Methotrexate

Resource links provided by NLM:


Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Number of participants who meet the definition of treatment success within 12 weeks from baseline. Treatment success is defined as a 25% decrease in excess retinal thickening in the study eye assessed by OCT as compared with baseline. [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Changes in excess retinal thickening, macular thickness, bcva, leakage on fa, autofluorescence patterns over study period. [ Time Frame: 12 and 24 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • Observation of dose reductions of systemic immunosuppression or steroids over the study period. [ Time Frame: 12 and 24 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Estimated Enrollment: 7
Study Start Date: February 2011
Estimated Study Completion Date: June 2013
Estimated Primary Completion Date: June 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Intervention Details:
    Drug: Methotrexate
    400 mcg/0.1 lml monthly for the first 3 months, then as needed
Detailed Description:

OBJECTIVE:

The study objective is to investigate the safety, tolerability and potential efficacy of intravitreal injections of methotrexate as a possible treatment for chronic macular edema secondary to panuveitis posterior or intermediate uveitis.

STUDY POPULATION:

Five participants with chronic macular edema associated with panuveitis posterior or intermediate uveitis will be initially enrolled. However, up to an additional two participants may be enrolled to account for participants who withdraw from the study prior to reaching Week 12. Eligibility criteria include macular edema in the study eye, which has not been responsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy in the past three months, or the participant experienced a recurrence of macular edema while on conventional immunosuppressive therapy.

DESIGN:

In this single-center, prospective, uncontrolled, unmasked, Phase I/II clinical trial, intravitreal injections of methotrexate at a dose of 400 micro g per 100 micro L will be administered. There will be an induction phase and a pro re nata (PRN) phase. During the induction phase, participants will receive injections at baseline and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 in their study eye unless contraindicated. Additional safety visits will occur at Weeks 1 and 2. Beginning at Week 24, participants who agree to remain in the study will undergo evaluation for injection in the study eye PRN every 4-8 weeks. These participants will be followed for 4-8 weeks after the last enrolled participant completes his/her Week 24 visit.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

The primary outcome is the number of participants who meet the definition of treatment success within 12 weeks from baseline. Treatment success is defined as achieving at least a 1-step decrease in the LogScore scale for central macular thickness.

Secondary outcomes include changes in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), changes in excess retinal thickening, changes in macular thickness, changes in intraocular inflammation on clinical exam, changes in leakage as seen on fluorescein angiography (FA), changes in autofluorescence patterns seen on fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging and observation of dose reductions of systemic immunosuppression or steroids. Safety outcomes include the number and severity of adverse events, systemic and ocular toxicities, electrophysiologic changes assessed by full-field electroretinography (ERG) and number of withdrawals.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Participant must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Participant must understand and sign the protocol's informed consent document.
  • Participant is willing to comply with the study procedures and return for all study visits.
  • Participant has chronic macular edema secondary to non-infectious panuveritis posterior or intermediate uveitis in at least one eye (the study eye) that has:
  • not been responsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy in the past 3 months;

OR

  • recurred while on conventional immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Participant has central macular thickness of greater than or equal to 270 microns in the study eye.
  • Participant has visual acuity of 20/400 or better (greater than or equal to 19 ETDRS letters) in the study eye.
  • Female participants of childbearing potential must not be pregnant or breast-feeding, must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and must be willing to undergo serum pregnancy tests throughout the study.
  • Both female participants of childbearing potential and male participants able to father children must have (or have a partner who has) had a hysterectomy or vasectomy, be completely abstinent from intercourse or must agree to practice two acceptable methods of contraception throughout the course of the study and for six months after the last study medication injection. Acceptable methods of contraception include:
  • hormonal contraception (i.e., birth control pills, injected hormones, dermal patch or vaginal ring),
  • intrauterine device,
  • barrier methods (diaphragm, condom) with spermicide, or
  • surgical sterilization (tubal ligation).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Participant is in another investigational study and actively receiving investigational therapy for macular edema.
  • Participant has evidence of infectious panuveritis posterior or intermediate uveitis in either eye.
  • Participant is expected to need ocular surgery in the study eye during the course of the trial.
  • Participant had intraocular surgery in the study eye within the past 90 days.
  • Participant had an injection of bevacizumab or ranibizumab within the past four weeks in the study eye.
  • Participant had an injection of triamcinolone within the past six weeks in the study eye.
  • Participant has a systemic condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study.
  • Participant has significant cataract or media opacity in the study eye that makes posterior segment visualization difficult as determined by investigator.
  • Participant has a confirmed positive serologic and/or molecular test for HIV-1/2.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01314417

Contacts
Contact: Patti Sherry, R.N. (301) 435-4529 patti.sherry@nih.gov
Contact: Hatice N Sen, M.D. (301) 435-5139 senh@mail.nih.gov

Locations
United States, Maryland
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike Recruiting
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Contact: For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office (PRPL)     800-411-1222 ext TTY8664111010     prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov    
Sponsors and Collaborators
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Hatice N Sen, M.D. National Eye Institute (NEI)
  More Information

Additional Information:
Publications:
Responsible Party: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) ( National Eye Institute (NEI) )
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01314417     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: 110107, 11-EI-0107
Study First Received: March 11, 2011
Last Updated: May 1, 2013
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Uveitis
Macular Edema
Methotrexate

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Edema
Macular Edema
Uveitis
Chorioretinitis
Uveitis, Posterior
Signs and Symptoms
Macular Degeneration
Retinal Degeneration
Retinal Diseases
Eye Diseases
Uveal Diseases
Retinitis
Choroiditis
Choroid Diseases
Panuveitis
Methotrexate
Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
Abortifacient Agents
Reproductive Control Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Pharmacologic Actions
Therapeutic Uses
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
Antimetabolites
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antineoplastic Agents
Dermatologic Agents
Enzyme Inhibitors
Folic Acid Antagonists
Immunosuppressive Agents

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 17, 2013