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A phase Ib/IIa clinical trial of dantrolene sodium in patients with Wolfram syndrome.
Abreu, D, Stone, SI, Pearson, TS, Bucelli, RC, Simpson, AN, Hurst, S, Brown, CM, Kries, K, Onwumere, C, Gu, H, et al
JCI insight. 2021;(15)
Abstract
BACKGROUNDWolfram syndrome is a rare ER disorder characterized by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy, and progressive neurodegeneration. Although there is no treatment for Wolfram syndrome, preclinical studies in cell and rodent models suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting ER calcium homeostasis, including dantrolene sodium, may be beneficial.METHODSBased on results from preclinical studies on dantrolene sodium and ongoing longitudinal studies, we assembled what we believe is the first-ever clinical trial in pediatric and adult Wolfram syndrome patients with an open-label phase Ib/IIa trial design. The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of dantrolene sodium in adult and pediatric Wolfram syndrome patients. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of dantrolene sodium on residual pancreatic β cell functions, visual acuity, quality-of-life measures related to vision, and neurological functions.RESULTSDantrolene sodium was well tolerated by Wolfram syndrome patients. Overall, β cell functions were not significantly improved, but there was a significant correlation between baseline β cell functions and change in β cell responsiveness (R2, P = 0.004) after 6-month dantrolene therapy. Visual acuity and neurological functions were not improved by 6-month dantrolene sodium. Markers of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, such as IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, and isoprostane, were elevated in subjects.CONCLUSIONThis study justifies further investigation into using dantrolene sodium and other small molecules targeting the ER for treatment of Wolfram syndrome.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02829268FUNDINGNIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (DK112921, DK113487, DK020579), NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (TR002065, TR000448), NIH training grant (F30DK111070), Silberman Fund, Ellie White Foundation, Snow Foundation, Unravel Wolfram Syndrome Fund, Stowe Fund, Eye Hope Foundation, Feiock Fund, Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences grant UL1TR002345 from NIH/NCATS, Bursky Center for Human Immunology & Immunotherapy Programs.
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Retinal Fluid Volatility Associated With Interval Tolerance and Visual Outcomes in Diabetic Macular Edema in the VISTA Phase III Trial.
Ehlers, JP, Uchida, A, Sevgi, DD, Hu, M, Reed, K, Berliner, A, Vitti, R, Chu, K, Srivastava, SK
American journal of ophthalmology. 2021;:217-227
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PURPOSE To describe longitudinal retinal fluid dynamics on spectral domain OCT and to identify imaging biomarkers that predict the worsening of DME with interval extension during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. DESIGN A post hoc sub-analysis of phase III, VISTA-DME study. METHODS Eyes received either intravitreal aflibercept injection 2 mg every 4 weeks (2q4) or every 8 weeks after 5 initial monthly injections (2q8), and eyes imaged with the Cirrus HD-OCT system were included. The macular cube was analyzed for 10 time-points from baseline through week 100. Retinal OCT images were evaluated using a novel software platform to extract retinal fluid features for calculation of volumetric fluid parameters, including the retinal fluid index (RFI): the percentage of retinal volume that was occupied by intraretinal fluid. RESULTS Fifty-five eyes were included in the 2q4 group, and 58 eyes were included in the 2q8 group. Early RFI volatility with a central macular RFI increase by ≥5 points from week 4 to 8 (P = .004, odds ratio [OR] 31.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0 to 329) and cumulative RFI volatility with an aggregate increase in macular RFI by ≥10 points from those timepoints with increased RFI between baseline to week 20, P = .005, OR 10.2, 95% CI 2.1 to 51.3) were both significant predictors for the worsening of DME and visual acuity when the treatment interval was extended to 8 weeks in the 2q8 group. CONCLUSIONS Early fluid dynamics as measured by (1) early RFI volatility and (2) cumulative RFI instability with aggregate increased RFI were associated with intolerance of interval extension.
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Oral N-acetylcysteine improves cone function in retinitis pigmentosa patients in phase I trial.
Campochiaro, PA, Iftikhar, M, Hafiz, G, Akhlaq, A, Tsai, G, Wehling, D, Lu, L, Wall, GM, Singh, MS, Kong, X
The Journal of clinical investigation. 2020;(3):1527-1541
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BACKGROUNDIn retinitis pigmentosa (RP), rod photoreceptors degenerate from 1 of many mutations, after which cones are compromised by oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces oxidative damage and increases cone function/survival in RP models. We tested the safety, tolerability, and visual function effects of oral NAC in RP patients.METHODSSubjects (n = 10 per cohort) received 600 mg (cohort 1), 1200 mg (cohort 2), or 1800 mg (cohort 3) NAC bid for 12 weeks and then tid for 12 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular sensitivity, ellipsoid zone (EZ) width, and aqueous NAC were measured. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the rates of changes during the treatment period.RESULTSThere were 9 drug-related gastrointestinal adverse events that resolved spontaneously or with dose reduction (maximum tolerated dose 1800 mg bid). During the 24-week treatment period, mean BCVA significantly improved at 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2-0.6, P < 0.001), 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.7, P < 0.001), and 0.2 (95% CI: 0.02-0.4, P = 0.03) letters/month in cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was no significant improvement in mean sensitivity over time in cohorts 1 and 2, but there was in cohort 3 (0.15 dB/month, 95% CI: 0.04-0.26). There was no significant change in mean EZ width in any cohort.CONCLUSIONOral NAC is safe and well tolerated in patients with moderately advanced RP and may improve suboptimally functioning macular cones. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial is needed to determine if oral NAC can provide long-term stabilization and/or improvement in visual function in patients with RP.TRIAL REGISTRATIONNCT03063021.FUNDINGMr. and Mrs. Robert Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Wallace, Rami and Eitan Armon, Marc Sumerlin, Cassandra Hanley, and Nacuity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Timing of Peak Vision Gains in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Ranibizumab.
Khurana, RN, Chang, L, Day, BM, Ghanekar, A, Stoilov, I
Ophthalmology. Retina. 2020;(8):760-766
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether time to peak best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was predictive of magnitude of BCVA changes at study end in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who received ranibizumab and assess whether patient baseline characteristics and on-study events were predictive of time to peak BCVA. DESIGN Exploratory analysis of data from HARBOR (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00891735). PARTICIPANTS Treatment-naïve patients 50 years of age or older with subfoveal nAMD. METHODS Data by ranibizumab dose were pooled; data by dosing schedule (pro re nata [PRN] and monthly) were evaluated separately. Time to peak BCVA was the monthly evaluation at which the patient's greatest gain in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters from baseline was achieved. Early peakers achieved peak BCVA between day 7 and month 6; late peakers achieved peak BCVA between months 7 and 12, months 13 and 18, and months 19 and 24. Variables evaluated for effect of time to peak BCVA included baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, presence of persistent subretinal fluid (SRF) or intraretinal fluid (IRF), and on-study events (atrophy status, fibrosis, retinal pigment epithelium tears). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Time to peak BCVA and its predictive value for magnitude of BCVA changes and BCVA at month 24 (study end). RESULTS Most patients reached peak BCVA after more than 6 months of treatment: 64% in the PRN group (301/474) and 70% in the monthly groups (327/469). Thirty-six percent and 30% of patients, respectively, peaked early, and 64% and 70%, respectively, peaked late. At month 24, early peakers on average lost vision (PRN, -1.6 ETDRS letters; monthly, -1.9 ETDRS letters). By contrast, late peakers achieved significantly better vision gains from baseline (PRN, 8.5-17.7 ETDRS letters; monthly, 10.1-18.7 ETDRS letters). No differences were found in patient characteristics, persistent SRF or IRF, or on-study events to account for the observed different outcomes between early and late peakers. CONCLUSIONS In most treatment-naïve patients with nAMD, vision gains were achieved at a slower rate (>6 months), and a slower response was associated with better vision outcomes after 24 months of ranibizumab. These findings suggest that continued treatment may result in greater vision improvements when consistent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy is maintained over a longer period.
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Impact of baseline Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale scores on visual outcomes in the VIVID-DME and VISTA-DME studies.
Staurenghi, G, Feltgen, N, Arnold, JJ, Katz, TA, Metzig, C, Lu, C, Holz, FG, ,
The British journal of ophthalmology. 2018;(7):954-958
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate intravitreal aflibercept versus laser in subgroups of patients with baseline Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS) scores ≤43, 47, and ≥53 in VIVID-DME and VISTA-DME. METHODS Patients with diabetic macular oedema were randomised to receive intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg every 4 weeks (2q4), intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks after five initial monthly doses (2q8), or macular laser photocoagulation at baseline with sham injections at every visit. These post hoc analyses evaluate outcomes based on baseline DRSS scores in patients in the integrated dataset. The 2q4 and 2q8 treatment groups were also pooled. RESULTS 748 patients had a baseline DRSS score based on fundus photographs (≤43, n=301; 47, n=153; ≥53, n=294). At week 100, the least squares mean difference between treatment groups (effect of intravitreal aflibercept above that of laser, adjusting for baseline best-corrected visual acuity) was 8.9 (95% CI 5.99 to 11.81), 9.7 (95% CI 5.54 to 13.91), and 11.0 (95% CI 7.96 to 14.1) letters in those with baseline DRSS scores ≤43, 47, and ≥53, respectively. The proportions of patients with ≥2 step DRSS score improvement were greater in the intravitreal aflibercept group versus laser, respectively, for those with baseline DRSS scores of ≤43 (13% vs 5.9%), 47 (25.8% vs 4.5%), and ≥53 (64.5% vs 28.4%). CONCLUSIONS Regardless of baseline DRSS score, functional outcomes were superior in intravitreal aflibercept-treated patients, demonstrating consistent treatment benefit across various baseline levels of retinopathy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS NCT01331681 and NCT01363440, Post-results.
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Visual and Anatomic Outcomes in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema with Limited Initial Anatomic Response to Ranibizumab in RIDE and RISE.
Pieramici, DJ, Wang, PW, Ding, B, Gune, S
Ophthalmology. 2016;(6):1345-50
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the visual acuity and anatomic outcomes over 24 months of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) who showed a delayed anatomic response after 3 ranibizumab injections in the RIDE and RISE trials. DESIGN Analysis of data from RIDE and RISE, 2 phase III, parallel, randomized, multicenter, double-masked trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers, NCT00473382 and NCT00473330). PARTICIPANTS Patients with DME (n = 681) who received monthly intravitreal ranibizumab 0.3-mg injections, ranibizumab 0.5-mg injections, or sham injections. METHODS Patients were separated into 3 groups: delayed responders (ranibizumab-treated patients with ≤10% central foveal thickness [CFT] reduction after 3 injections), immediate responders (ranibizumab-treated patients with >10% CFT reduction after 3 injections), and sham recipients. Central foveal thickness was measured by time-domain optical coherence tomography, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured by Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter scores, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) was measured by the standardized ETDRS severity scale (using fundus photographs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Month-24 CFT, BCVA, and DR severity levels. RESULTS In RIDE and RISE, 9% to 10% of ranibizumab-treated eyes were delayed responders. At month 24, delayed responders had less CFT reduction (median, -102 μm) from baseline compared with immediate responders (median, -274 μm; P < 0.0001). Delayed responders gained a median of 10 letters at 24 months, similar to immediate responders (14 letters; P = 0.15). At month 24, DR improvement among the delayed responders (31% and 22% of patients with ≥2- or ≥3-step DR improvement, respectively) was comparable with that among immediate responders (42% and 17%, respectively; P = 0.21 and P = 0.48, respectively). CONCLUSIONS With continued treatment, at month 24, patients with DME with delayed anatomic response (≤10% CFT reduction) after 3 ranibizumab injections had visual acuity gains and DR improvement similar to those of patients with DME who had immediate anatomic response.
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Clinical efficacy and mechanistic evaluation of aflibercept for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (acronym CLARITY): a multicentre phase IIb randomised active-controlled clinical trial.
Sivaprasad, S, Prevost, AT, Bainbridge, J, Edwards, RT, Hopkins, D, Kelly, J, Luthert, P, Murphy, C, Ramu, J, Sarafraz-Shekary, N, et al
BMJ open. 2015;(9):e008405
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the main cause of severe visual loss in people with diabetes mellitus. The standard treatment for this condition is panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). This laser treatment is inherently destructive, with predictable adverse effects on visual function, and a safer alternative is required. Intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors can induce short-term regression of retinal neovascularisation. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to determine the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept, an inhibitor of VEGF-A, VEGF-B and placental growth factor (PLGF), in PDR, and to investigate the impact on local oxygenation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a phase IIb randomised controlled single-masked multicentre clinical trial to determine the impact of repeated intravitreal aflibercept injections in the treatment and prevention of PDR. 220 participants with treatment-naïve or treated but active retinal neovascularisation in at least one eye will be randomly allocated 1:1 to intravitreal aflibercept injections or PRP for a period of 52 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in best-corrected visual acuity in the study eye at 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes include changes from baseline in other visual functions, anatomical changes and cost-effectiveness. Ocular and non-ocular adverse events will also be reported over 52 weeks. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) committee with respect to scientific content and compliance with applicable research and human subjects' regulations. Findings will be reported through scientific publications and research conferences. The results of this study will provide clinical evidence for the feasibility, efficacy safety and cost-effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept for PDR. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN 32207582.
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Predictors of Functional and Anatomic Outcomes in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Ranibizumab.
Sophie, R, Lu, N, Campochiaro, PA
Ophthalmology. 2015;(7):1395-401
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate baseline predictors of month 24 best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated monthly with ranibizumab or sham. DESIGN Post hoc analysis of DME patients in 2 identical phase 3 studies. PARTICIPANTS Patients randomized to ranibizumab (n = 502) or sham (n = 257). METHODS Multivariate regression on predictors with P < 0.20 in univariate logistic regression using backward selection to retain predictors with P < 0.05. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient characteristics correlating with month 24 BCVA in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter score ≥70 (20/40) or ≤50 (20/100), gain or loss from baseline BCVA of ≥15, or CFT ≤250 μm. RESULTS Baseline predictors of BCVA ≥20/40 in ranibizumab-treated patients were good BCVA, submacular fluid, no cardiovascular disease, no scatter photocoagulation, and male gender, whereas in sham-treated patients, they were mild increase in CFT, presence of hard exudates in center subfield, and absence of renal disease. Predictors of improvement in BCVA letter score ≥15 in ranibizumab-treated patients were poor BCVA, submacular fluid, young age, and short diabetes duration, and those in sham-treated patients were poor BCVA, young age, and mild increase in CFT. Predictors of resolution of edema (CFT ≤250 μm) in ranibizumab-treated patients were mild foveal thickening and prominent subfoveal fluid, and those in sham-treated patients were poor BCVA, mild foveal thickening, and statin usage. Month 24 BCVA ≤20/100 was predicted by poor baseline BCVA in ranibizumab-treated patients, and by poor baseline BCVA, large intraretinal cystoid spaces, renal disease, and absence of hypercholesterolemia in sham-treated patients. Loss of BCVA ≥15 letters was predicted in sham-treated patients by submacular fluid, intraretinal cystoid spaces, and renal disease. CONCLUSIONS Patients with DME and submacular fluid, intraretinal cysts, severe thickening, or renal disease respond poorly when untreated and respond well to ranibizumab treatment. Elimination of submacular fluid, intraretinal cysts, and severe thickening are important goals of DME treatment, and in patients with renal disease, treatment should be very aggressive, with a goal of eliminating all macular fluid.
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Association of retinal vessel calibre and visual outcome in eyes with diabetic macular oedema treated with ranibizumab.
Moradi, A, Sepah, YJ, Ibrahim, MA, Sophie, R, Moazez, C, Bittencourt, MG, Annam, RE, Hanout, M, Liu, H, Ferraz, D, et al
Eye (London, England). 2014;(11):1315-20
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PURPOSE The study aims to identify the association between the baseline retinal vascular calibre and visual outcome of patients with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. METHODS The 1-M field (as defined in the ETDRS study) of the digital colour fundus photographs of DMO patients who had been treated primarily with ranibizumab in a clinical trial was assessed. Of the 84 patients, 25 had gradable retinal photographs that could be subjected to analyses by the Interactive Vessel Analysis (IVAN) software at baseline. The average retinal vascular calibre of the six largest venules (CRVE) and the six largest arterioles (CRAE) in the peripapillary area (0.5 and 1 disc diameter from the optic disc margin) was measured. The relationship between CRVE and CRAE at baseline and the change in visual acuity at month 12 was assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS Ten eyes from 10 patients who had shown an improvement of ≥2 lines of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at month 12 had a wider baseline CRVE (248.3±24.5 μm) compared with the 15 eyes from 15 patients who did not show the improvement of ≥2 lines (226.6±44.8 μm, P<0.05). The baseline CRAE did not differ significantly in these patients (156.1±22.7 vs 142±17.5 μm, P=0.17). CONCLUSIONS A wider baseline retinal venular calibre may be a predictor of better visual outcome in DMO eyes treated with ranibizumab. Further prospective studies with a larger sample size and a broader range of disease severity and visual acuity are needed to confirm this finding.
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Morphological and functional correlations in riboflavin UV A corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus.
Mazzotta, C, Caporossi, T, Denaro, R, Bovone, C, Sparano, C, Paradiso, A, Baiocchi, S, Caporossi, A
Acta ophthalmologica. 2012;(3):259-65
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PURPOSE To investigate the correlations between corneal structural modifications assessed by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy with visual function [uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA)] and morphological data (corneal topography, pachymetry, elevation analysis) after riboflavin UV A corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for the stabilization of progressive keratoconus. METHODS Forty-four eyes with progressive keratoconus were enrolled in the Siena Eye Cross Study (prospective nonrandomized phase II open trial). All eyes underwent Riboflavin UV A CXL. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation comprised: UCVA, BSCVA, optical pachymetry (Visante OCT, Zeiss, Germany), corneal topography (CSO, Florence, Italy) and tomography (Orbscan IIz; B&L, Rochester, NY, USA) and in vivo confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II; Rostock, Heidelberg Gmbh, Germany). Examinations were performed preoperatively 6 months and one day before treatment and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS In vivo corneal confocal microscopy showed time-dependent postoperative epithelial and stromal modifications after cross-linking. Epithelial thinning associated with stromal oedema and keratocytes apoptosis explained initial tendency towards slightly reduced VA and more glare one month postoperatively in 70% of eyes. Furthermore, a statistically not significant early worsening of topographic mean K values was observed. Orbscan II analysis significantly underestimated pachymetric values after treatment. Pachymetric underestimation was rectified by high-resolution optical pachymetry provided by the Visante OCT system. After the third post-CXL month, epithelial thickening, disappearance of oedema and new collagen compaction recorded by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy explained the improvements in visual performance during the follow-up. Changes in stromal reflectivity and collagen compaction observed by in vivo confocal microscopy were associated with corneal flattening and reduction in anterior elevation values recorded by differential topographic analysis. CONCLUSION Corneal structural changes assessed by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy demonstrated significant correlations with visual function (UCVA and BSCVA) and morphological (corneal topography, pachymetry, elevation analysis) findings recorded after riboflavin-UV A-induced CXL.