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Comparison of Corticosteroid Dosing Regimens After Endothelial Keratoplasty

Prospective, Randomized Comparison of Corticosteroid Dosing Regimens Following Endothelial Keratoplasty

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01853696
Enrollment
167
Registered
2013-05-15
Start date
2013-03-31
Completion date
2015-01-31
Last updated
2015-05-15

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

Conditions

Fuchs' Dystrophy, Corneal Edema

Brief summary

Graft rejection has traditionally been one of the leading causes of cornea transplant failure. To help prevent rejection, corticosteroid eye drops are used for an extended period after transplant surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and side effects of different corticosteroid dosing regimens after endothelial keratoplasty (cornea transplant) surgery.

Interventions

Sponsors

Cornea Research Foundation of America
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* At least 18 years of age * Male or female patient who had endothelial keratoplasty procedure within the past 1 to 7 weeks * Patient is able and willing to administer eye drops * Patient is able to comprehend and has signed the Informed Consent form. * Patient is likely to complete the one-year course of the study

Exclusion criteria

* A history of a previous rejection episode in the study eye * A patient exhibiting intraocular inflammation * A patient with a known sensitivity to any of the ingredients in the study medications * A patient who has a condition (i.e., UNCONTROLLED systemic disease) or is in a situation which in the investigator's opinion may put the patient at significant risk, may confound the study results, or may interfere significantly with the patient's participation in the study * A patient with abnormal eyelid function. * A patient that is exhibiting active corneal ulceration, keratitis, or conjunctivitis, or who has a history of herpetic keratitis. * Presence of any ocular disease that would interfere with the evaluation of the study treatment. However, patients with a history of cystoid macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, controlled glaucoma, corneal neovascularization, and other non-interfering comorbidities may be enrolled. * A patient with a history of non-compliance with using prescribed medication. * A patient who is concurrently involved in or participated in another randomized clinical trial within 30 days prior to enrollment in this study. * Patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the duration of the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intraocular Pressurefrom 1 to 12 months after transplantNumber of eyes in which the absolute intraocular pressure equaled or exceeded 24 mm Hg OR in which there was a relative increase of at least 10 mm Hg over the baseline preoperative reading.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Immunologic Graft Rejection Episodewithin first year after cornea transplantationRejection episodes were assessed by slit lamp examination and categorized as definite when an endothelial rejection line was detected in a previously clear graft, probable when inflammation (stromal infiltrate, keratic precipitates, cells in the anterior chamber, or ciliary injection) was detected in a previously clear graft without an endothelial rejection line, and possible if central corneal pachymetry increased by 30 microns or more, even if the cornea was clear and no inflammation was detected by slit lamp examination.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Loteprednol
Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% gel applied topically 4 times daily for 2 months, 3 times daily for 1 month, twice daily for one month and once daily for 7 months loteprednol etabonate
84
Prednisolone Acetate
Prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic solution applied 4 times daily for two months, 3 times daily for one month, twice daily for one month, and once daily for 7 months prednisolone acetate 1%
83
Total167

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up54
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject11

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicLoteprednolTotalPrednisolone Acetate
Age, Continuous69 years69 years69 years
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants1 Participants1 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
84 Participants166 Participants82 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
84 participants167 participants83 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
56 Participants117 Participants61 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
28 Participants50 Participants22 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 840 / 83
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 840 / 83

Outcome results

Primary

Intraocular Pressure

Number of eyes in which the absolute intraocular pressure equaled or exceeded 24 mm Hg OR in which there was a relative increase of at least 10 mm Hg over the baseline preoperative reading.

Time frame: from 1 to 12 months after transplant

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
LoteprednolIntraocular Pressure11 eyes
Prednisolone AcetateIntraocular Pressure27 eyes
Secondary

Immunologic Graft Rejection Episode

Rejection episodes were assessed by slit lamp examination and categorized as definite when an endothelial rejection line was detected in a previously clear graft, probable when inflammation (stromal infiltrate, keratic precipitates, cells in the anterior chamber, or ciliary injection) was detected in a previously clear graft without an endothelial rejection line, and possible if central corneal pachymetry increased by 30 microns or more, even if the cornea was clear and no inflammation was detected by slit lamp examination.

Time frame: within first year after cornea transplantation

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
LoteprednolImmunologic Graft Rejection Episode0 eyes
Prednisolone AcetateImmunologic Graft Rejection Episode0 eyes

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