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Shunt Tube Exposure Prevention Study

Amniotic Membrane Versus Pericardium in Reducing Glaucoma Drainage Tube Exposure: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01551550
Acronym
STEPS
Enrollment
82
Registered
2012-03-12
Start date
2013-06-30
Completion date
2019-08-03
Last updated
2022-05-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Glaucoma

Keywords

Glaucoma Drainage Device, Tube Exposure, Amniotic Membrane

Brief summary

This is a multi-site randomized clinical trial to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the thicker amniotic membrane graft (AmnioGuard™, Bio-Tissue, Inc, Miami, FL) in reducing shunt tube exposure in patients undergoing glaucoma drainage device implantation.

Detailed description

Glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) have been used in the treatment of high-risk refractory glaucoma. To avoid tube exposure, which may lead to serious eye infection, the implanted GDD tube must be covered by a patch graft, traditionally made of either donor sclera or pericardium. However, these patch grafts still carry a high rate of progressive thinning and erosion, a complication that the investigators speculate results from the lack of cellular infiltration from the surrounding host conjunctival stroma and poor integration of these patch grafts to the host tissue. The investigators further speculate that a thicker version of cryo-preserved amniotic membrane (AM), manufactured by Bio-Tissue, Inc.,could offer better tensile strength, be suitable for tectonic support, and have biological activities to promote cellular infiltration by the surrounding host conjunctival stroma, thus reducing progressive allogeneic patch graft thinning/erosion. Through SBIR Phase I grant support (R43 EY19785), the investigators have evaluated the thicker AM as an alternative patch graft for covering the GDD tube during the primary implantation. The investigators further monitored the host cell interaction using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). The investigators have successfully accomplished the proposed aims of the above studies, which demonstrated the short-term stability/efficacy of AM in covering the tube in primary GDD surgery (Phase I-Aim 1) and confirmed the feasibility of using OCT to distinguish host cell infiltration into the AM after transplantation over the GDD tube (Phase I-Aim 2). In this SBIR Phase II, the investigators propose to conduct a prospective, controlled study to compare the long-term safety and efficacy of the thicker AM (AmnioGuard™, Bio-Tissue, Inc, Miami, FL) to the pericardium (Tutoplast®, IOP Inc, Costa Mesa, CA) in securing the GDD tube and reducing tube exposure and graft thinning in patients with high risk glaucoma. The investigators will also study the risk factors that may contribute to GDD tube exposure. Accomplishment of this Phase II study will position AM as an effective alternative to the existing patch grafts to reduce tube exposure and enhance the success of GDD implantation, while providing a better aesthetic appearance and allowing visualization of the tube in patients with high risk glaucoma. The investigators speculate that such a graft might also have other clinical applications outside of covering GDD tubes.

Interventions

PROCEDUREGDD

The surgery includes conjunctival incision, placement and securing the GDD plate in one quadrant, paracentesis and tube insertion into the anterior chamber, tube fixation to the episclera.

For subjects assigned to the treatment group, Amnioguard is used to cover the shunt tube. The conjunctiva is then closed.

PROCEDUREPericardial Graft

For subjects assigned to the control group Tutoplast is used to cover the tube. The conjunctiva is then closed.

Sponsors

National Eye Institute (NEI)
CollaboratorNIH
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
The New York Eye & Ear Infirmary
CollaboratorOTHER
Columbia University
CollaboratorOTHER
BioTissue Holdings, Inc
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients with uncontrolled glaucoma undergoing GDD implantation and carry one of the following two strata of high risk factors: 1. Primary open angle glaucoma with previous conjunctival cutting surgery including prior failed trabeculectomy. 2. Secondary glaucoma, e.g., neovascular, uveitic, or post-traumatic glaucoma. * Age range: 21- 80 years old. * Both genders and all ethnic groups comparable with the local community. * Patients able and willing to cooperate with investigational plan. * Patients able and willing to complete postoperative follow-up. * Patients able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Ocular infection within 14 days prior to prior to study entry. * No light perception vision * Previous cyclodestructive procedure. * Children under 21 (see Inclusion of Children). * Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements. * Inability or unwillingness of subject or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Tube Erosion2 yearsImpending conjunctival erosion can be indicated by loss of conjunctival capillaries over the tube, usually 1 to 3 mm from the corneoscleral junction. Definitive tube exposure is accompanied by conjunctival tissue loss, graft melting.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Glaucoma Drainage Device Failure2 yearsGDD Failure, based on reoperation to control the IOP, and also include the defined by the following criteria: (1) IOP ≥21 mm Hg or not reduced by 30% below baseline on two consecutive follow-up visits after 3 months. (2) IOP ≤5 mm Hg on two consecutive follow-up visits after 3 months. (3) Additional glaucoma surgery. (4) Loss of light perception vision.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
GDD & Amniotic Membrane Graft
After GDD implantation, amniotic membrane graft (AmnioGuard™, Bio-Tissue inc, Miami, FL) is used to cover the GDD tube. GDD: The surgery includes conjunctival incision, placement and securing the GDD plate in one quadrant, paracentesis and tube insertion into the anterior chamber, tube fixation to the episclera. Amniotic Membrane Graft: For subjects assigned to the treatment group, Amnioguard is used to cover the shunt tube. The conjunctiva is then closed.
41
GDD & Pericardial Graft
After GDD implantation, a pericardial graft (Tutoplast®, IOP Inc, Costa Mesa, CA) is used to cover the GDD tube. GDD: The surgery includes conjunctival incision, placement and securing the GDD plate in one quadrant, paracentesis and tube insertion into the anterior chamber, tube fixation to the episclera. Pericardial Graft: For subjects assigned to the control group Tutoplast is used to cover the tube. The conjunctiva is then closed.
40
Total81

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGDD & Pericardial GraftTotalGDD & Amniotic Membrane Graft
Age, Continuous68.9 yrs
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.3
67 yrs
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13
65.4 yrs
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.6
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
4 Participants4 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
10 Participants28 Participants18 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
26 Participants49 Participants23 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
28 Participants50 Participants22 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants31 Participants19 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
2 / 413 / 41
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 410 / 41

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants With Tube Erosion

Impending conjunctival erosion can be indicated by loss of conjunctival capillaries over the tube, usually 1 to 3 mm from the corneoscleral junction. Definitive tube exposure is accompanied by conjunctival tissue loss, graft melting.

Time frame: 2 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
GDD & Amniotic Membrane GraftNumber of Participants With Tube Erosion2 Participants
GDD & Pericardial GraftNumber of Participants With Tube Erosion11 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Glaucoma Drainage Device Failure

GDD Failure, based on reoperation to control the IOP, and also include the defined by the following criteria: (1) IOP ≥21 mm Hg or not reduced by 30% below baseline on two consecutive follow-up visits after 3 months. (2) IOP ≤5 mm Hg on two consecutive follow-up visits after 3 months. (3) Additional glaucoma surgery. (4) Loss of light perception vision.

Time frame: 2 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
GDD & Amniotic Membrane GraftNumber of Participants With Glaucoma Drainage Device Failure2 Participants
GDD & Pericardial GraftNumber of Participants With Glaucoma Drainage Device Failure2 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026