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Promising early evidence of the superior benefits of drug therapy for diabetic eye disease
April 30, 2008A JDRF collaboration between Johns Hopkins researchers and Genentech has shown that a drug for the treatment of diabetic eye disease has performed better in clinical trials than the current standard treatment using laser surgery.
These findings, representing the six-month end-point evaluation of the READ-2 clinical trial coordinated by The Johns Hopkins University, were presented Monday at the 2008 Annual Meeting of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
According to Barbara Araneo, Ph.D., director of the complications program at JDRF, "These are very encouraging results, showing that drugs we have been testing in human clinical trials can be effective in slowing or stopping the effects of eye disease brought on by diabetes."
The multi-center READ-2 Study (Ranibizumab for Edema of the mAcula in Diabetes), which began in December 2006, was designed to test the long-term safety and effectiveness of injections of the drug ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema, a condition characterized by swelling of the central portion of the retina, or macula, at the back of the eye. In addition, the trial sought to determine the comparative efficacy of ranibizumab versus conventional treatment - laser photocoagulation therapy - or both together.
Macular edema, one of the most common causes of blindness, occurs when fluid and protein deposits collect on or under the macula, causing it to thicken and swell.
Participating in the clinical trial were 126 diabetic patients (average age 62) with documented Diabetic Macular Edema prior to enrollment; the majority had 20/80 vision in the eye that was treated. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three interventions: ranibizumab, laser photocoagulation, or a combination of the two treatments. At each visit over the course of the six-month treatment period, patients were evaluated for vision, retinal thickening, and general eye health. Although the study ended at six months, patients will be monitored for two years.
Patients treated with ranibizumab experienced significantly greater improvements in visual acuity, or clarity of vision, compared with patients receiving either of the other interventions. On average, the vision of ranibizumab-treated patients improved to 20/63 at month six, compared with essentially unchanged acuity scores of about 20/80 in both the laser and the combination treatment groups.
In addition, patients treated with ranibizumab had a 56 percent reduction in excess retinal thickness, whereas only an 11 percent reduction was seen in those receiving laser treatments.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
The multi-center READ-2 Study (Ranibizumab for Edema of the mAcula in Diabetes), which began in December 2006, was designed to test the long-term safety and effectiveness of injections of the drug ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema, a condition characterized by swelling of the central portion of the retina, or macula, at the back of the eye. In addition, the trial sought to determine the comparative efficacy of ranibizumab versus conventional treatment - laser photocoagulation therapy - or both together.
Macular edema, one of the most common causes of blindness, occurs when fluid and protein deposits collect on or under the macula, causing it to thicken and swell.
Participating in the clinical trial were 126 diabetic patients (average age 62) with documented Diabetic Macular Edema prior to enrollment; the majority had 20/80 vision in the eye that was treated. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three interventions: ranibizumab, laser photocoagulation, or a combination of the two treatments. At each visit over the course of the six-month treatment period, patients were evaluated for vision, retinal thickening, and general eye health. Although the study ended at six months, patients will be monitored for two years.
Patients treated with ranibizumab experienced significantly greater improvements in visual acuity, or clarity of vision, compared with patients receiving either of the other interventions. On average, the vision of ranibizumab-treated patients improved to 20/63 at month six, compared with essentially unchanged acuity scores of about 20/80 in both the laser and the combination treatment groups.
In addition, patients treated with ranibizumab had a 56 percent reduction in excess retinal thickness, whereas only an 11 percent reduction was seen in those receiving laser treatments.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
Eye Disease Current Events and Eye Disease News RSSResearchers find new way to attack inflammation in Graves' eye disease
A small group of patients with severe Graves' eye disease experienced rapid improvement of their symptoms - and improved vision - following treatment with the drug rituximab.
Cataract surgery helps AMD patients; steroid improves DME; online eye health forum
This month's Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) reports on a national study that finds cataract surgery is likely to benefit patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at all stages of the disease, on a clinical trial showing that the steroid triamcinolone may be effective in advanced diabetic macular edema (DME) patients when standard treatment fails, and on the public's use of two Academy-sponsored online eye health forums.
Experimental treatments restore partial vision to blind people
Two experimental treatments, a retinal prosthesis and fetal tissue transplant, restored some vision to people with blinding eye diseases. The findings, presented at Neuroscience 2009, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news on brain science and health, may lead to new treatments for the blind.
Cancer drug is no different in effectiveness as gold standard treatment for macular degeneration
Investigators from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and the VA Boston Healthcare System have shown, at 6 months in a small group of patients, that there is no difference in efficacy between Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Toronto researchers discover novel circulation in human eye, new glaucoma treatment target
Researchers at the University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre have discovered a previously unidentified form of circulation within the human eye which may provide important new insights into glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
International conference on endothelin
One of the most intriguing developments in recent medical science is the discovery of the human chemical endothelin (ET).
JDRF-funded studies show regular CGM use increases diabetes control for all age groups
The latest data from groundbreaking human clinical trials of the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) show that the primary determinant of improvements in achieving better diabetes control is regular use of monitors - six days per week or more - rather than the age of patients, and that benefits continue well past the time when people with type 1 diabetes begin using the devices - including experiencing fewer low blood sugar emergencies.
Elevated arginase levels contribute to vascular eye disease such as diabetic retinopathy
Elevated levels of the enzyme arginase contribute to vascular eye damage and Medical College of Georgia researchers say therapies to normalize its levels could halt progression of potentially blinding diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
Anti-growth factor drugs raise hope and concern for treatment of children's eye diseases
A new class of antibody drugs may provide a powerful new tool for the treatment of eye diseases in children, but specialists need to be alert for the possibility of serious side effects, according to an editorial in the August Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus), published by Elsevier.
Natural Compound Stops Diabetic Retinopathy
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have found a way to use a natural compound to stop one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.
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Selling Your Disease (Alt. Mix) The Masked Musician (Primary Contributor) |
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Thyroid Eye Disease: Understanding Graves\' Ophthalmopathy by Elaine A. Moore (Author) The only educational resource and guide for patients with Graves' Ophthalmopathy, an inflammatory eye disorder that often precedes, accompanies, or follows autoimmune thyroid disease. |
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Living with Disease: Teens with Chronic Illness: Through Their Eyes DVD by Clearvue Glimpse the lives of three teenage girls living with challenging medical conditions. | |
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Wills Eye Manual (Software for download) by Skyscape Designed for the eye care provider who, in the midst of evaluating an eye problem, needs quick access to additional information. Includes the results of some of the recent clinical trials, such as the CRASH study. Newly adeed a number of new topics on iridodialysis/ cyclodialysis, sclopeteria, shaken baby syndrome, crystalline keratopathy, ptosis, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, crystalline retinopathy, lens-induced glaucoma, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, ophthalmic acronyms, and an enhanced pharmacopoeia. Key Features * Instant access to current information on diagnosis and treatment of all eye disorders. * Valuable resource for residents, comprehensive opthalmologists, optometrists, emergency room physicians, prmiary care practitioners, medical students and other health care... |
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