This prospective non-randomized open-label interventional study aimed to evaluate feasibility in regard to potential efficacy and safety of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injected in the suprachoroidal space (SCS) as a promising therapeutic route that provides a better bioavailability, longer sustained duration of action, and thus improved patients' compliance for the treatment of macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
Management of Macular Edema (ME) associated with Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) still poses a therapeutic challenge taking into account its complicated etiopathogenesis. Despite improved visual and anatomical outcomes achieved by intravitreal injections of antiangiogenics and steroids, these treatments are still associated with non-responders, tachyphylaxis, rebound phenomenon, high re-injection, and adverse events rates, which underscore the importance of addressing new approaches to formulate treatment strategies. Delivery of therapeutic agents into the suprachoroidal space (SCS) provides a novel alternative approach that has theoretical appeal, as it dominantly targets chorioretinal tissues with the posterior and circumferential spread of the drug administered while relatively sparing the unaffected anterior segment of the eye and the vitreous chamber, thus minimizing risks associated with off-target effects, which potentiates safety. This was well translated in preclinical and clinical studies through microinjector, which has been shown to provide a safe, minimally invasive, and reliable method of targeting SCS. In addition, sustained duration and favorable pharmacokinetics have been observed for small molecule suspensions including Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA), with the potential to reduce treatment burden.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
4 mg /0.1 ml TA was injected in the SCS using an individualized microinjector according to scleral thickness measured by anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) at the injection point (4 mm from the limbus in the inferotemporal quadrant).
Al Mouwasat University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology
Damascus, Syria
Percentage of participants with BCVA gain≥ 15 Letters at 3 months
Percentage of participants with ≥ 15 letter Improvement from Baseline Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity score: BCVA refers to the measurement of the best possible vision that can be achieved following refraction. BCVA was assessed using a Snellen chart. The resultant measures were converted to Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study ETDRS letter score. An increase from the pre-treatment state in BCVA of 15 letters or more represents a clinically meaningful improvement.
Time frame: 3 months after injection
Percentage of participants with IOP ≥20 mm Hg at 3 months
Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the fluid pressure inside the eye. Tonometry is the method that eye care professionals use to determine this. Tonometers in this study were calibrated to measure pressure in millimeters of mercury.
Time frame: 3 months after injection
Change in the BCVA
Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) refers to the measurement of the best possible vision that can be achieved following refraction. BCVA was assessed using a Snellen chart. The resultant measures were converted to ETDRS letter score. A positive change from baseline value represents an improvement in vision.
Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after injection.
Change in the CST
Central subfield thickness (CST) is a diagnostic measurement used in identifying the presence of edema in the circular area 1 mm in diameter centered around the fovea. CST was measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). A negative change from baseline value represents a reduction in macular edema.
Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after injection.
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Change in the Proportion of Participants with CST ≤ 320 μ
Central subfield thickness (CST) is the average macular thickness in the central circular area 1 mm in diameter centered around the fovea and is a diagnostic measurement applied to diagnose macular edema. CST was measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).
Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after injection.
Change in the Percentage of Reduction in Excess Foveal Thickness (EFT)
Excess Foveal Thickness (EFT) was estimated by subtracting 310 µ from the central subfield thickness (CST). CST was measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).
Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after injection.
Change in the Serious Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (S-TEAEs)
Number of patients with Serious Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (S-TEAEs): A treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) is the development of an undesirable medical condition or the worsening of a preexisting medical condition either in intensity or frequency after exposure to a pharmaceutical product. Ophthalmic Serious TEAEs include Endophthalmitis, intraocular inflammation, vitreal hemorrhage, retinal tear and Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. These Adverse Events were evaluated through anterior and posterior segments examination using slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy.
Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after injection.
Change in the IOP
Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the fluid pressure inside the eye. Tonometry is the method that eye care professionals use to determine this. Tonometers in this study were calibrated to measure pressure in millimeters of mercury.
Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after injection.