Investigating the Structural and Functional Changes to the Retina Following PRP in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

April 30, 2019 updated by: Lawson Health Research Institute

A 24-Month Cohort Study Assessing the Nature and the Time Course of Structural and Functional Changes to the Retina Following PASCAL Photocoagulation in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

Laser therapy is an established method to stabilize and control proliferative diabetic eye disease. Questions on the long-term effect on the retina from these treatments remain to be answered. The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in the retina following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) over time, using structural and functional diagnostic tests.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of adult-acquired retinal vascular disease. Diabetic retinopathy is estimated to affect more than 100 million adults, and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Over the past 30 years, epidemiological studies and clinical trials have shown that early detection through annual eye exams, intensive glucose and blood pressure control, and timely laser photocoagulation could prevent visual loss. More recently, a variety of newer ocular treatments and medications have been introduced, such as the use of the PASCAL photocoagulation laser system, and various anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies. While these treatments have revolutionized how diabetic retinopathy patients are managed clinically, questions on appropriate patient selection and the long-term efficacy and safety of these treatments remain to be answered.

The purpose of this study is to focus on studying the nature and the time course over 2 years of structural and functional changes to the retina following PASCAL photocoagulation in severe preproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

24

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female patient's greater than 18 years of age who have signed an informed consent.
  • Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (according to ADA or WHO guidelines) that have severe preproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy and require PRP surgery in at least one eye.
  • Adequate pupil dilation and clear media to perform laser photocoagulation, HRT, OCT and visual field testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Advanced lens opacity (Lens opacity that excludes the ability to capture data)
  • Prior PRP within the past year
  • Focal laser within one year of study entry

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control
Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (according to ADA or WHO guidelines) that have severe preproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy and do not require laser or anti-VEGF treatment in at least one eye.
Experimental: Treatment: Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation
Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (according to ADA or WHO guidelines) that have severe preproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy and require PRP laser in at least one eye.

Diabetic retinopathy does not usually impair sight until the development of long-term complications, including proliferative retinopathy, a condition in which abnormal new blood vessels may rupture and bleed inside the eye. When this advanced stage of retinopathy occurs, pan-retinal photocoagulation is usually recommended.

During this procedure, a special laser is used to make tiny burns that seal the retina and stop vessels from growing and leaking. Hundreds of tiny spots of laser are placed in the retina to reduce the risk of vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
The rate of structural and functional changes to the retinal thickness following PASCAL PRP in severe PDR patients, assessed by optical coherence tomography.
Time Frame: 2 years
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Cindy Hutnik, MD, PhD, Western University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 27, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 1, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

December 3, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 2, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 30, 2019

Last Verified

April 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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