Applicability of the Acai Fruit (Euterpe Oleracea) Dye for Chromovitrectomy in Humans

June 5, 2017 updated by: Mauricio Maia, Federal University of São Paulo

Our research group tested the toxicity of different dye concentrations extracted from the acai fruit using a rabbit model. The dye extracted from the acai fruit in concentrations of 10% and 25% was found to be safe for vitreoretinal surgery. This initial research represented the landmark research for testing this alternative vital dye in a clinical research in humans.

The aim of the present clinical trial in humans will be to test the applicability of the acai dye in the identification of the posterior hyaloid and ILM during vitreoretinal surgery in humans.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The purpose of the present clinical trial in humans will be to test the impregnation capacity of the acai dye (10 and 25% concentrations) in the identification of the posterior hyaloid and ILM during vitreoretinal surgery in humans.

Twenty-four patients that seek treatment at the Ophthalmology Department of The Federal University of São Paulo will be selected for this study. Inclusion criteria will be patients diagnosed with epiretinal membrane, macular hole or diabetic retinopathy (with or without vitreal hemorrhages, and/or macular edema, and/or vitreomacular traction). All must be indicated for vitrectomy surgery for the removal of the epiretinal membrane and/or internal limiting membrane.

The present clinical trial was approved by the ethics committee of the Federal University of São Paulo (CEP-UNIFESP). All patients will be invited to sign an Informed Consent Form before participating in the study.

Twenty-four different retina surgeons will operate one of the 24 selected patients, using the standard vitrectomy technique that employs 4 sclerotomies and a 23-gauge system with accessory illumination. All surgeries will be performed using the acai dye (Euterpe oleracea) in the following concentrations: 10% (n=12) or 25% (n=12).

Immediately after the procedure, each surgeon will be given an evaluation questionnaire to fill-in.

All patients will be submitted to the following routine pre-operatory evaluations:

  1. Physical and pre-anesthesia evaluations - to be performed by the Anesthesiology Team of the São Paulo Hospital.
  2. Complete Ophthalmological Examination - that will include:

    1. Visual Acuity Measurements with best correction for both eyes.
    2. Applaination Tonometry (Goldman Tonometer). For this, one drop of anesthetic solution and one drop of fluorescein were instilled in the eye.
    3. Biomicroscopy
    4. Indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy: under mydriasis that will be obtained before each procedure by topical application of tropicamide and phenylephrine.
    5. Retinography and Angiofluoresceinography (with patient under mydriasis- except when "opacidade de meios")
    6. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the posterior segment (except when "opacidade de meios")
    7. Multifocal Electroretinogram (except when "opacidade de meios")

The vitrectomy surgery will be performed in all patients of this present study using the 23-gauge technique composed of 4 sclerectomies and vitrectomy without 23-gauge sutures.

During surgery, after vitreous removal, the dye extracted from the acai fruit will be slowly injected using a 23 or 25-gauge silicone cannula connected to a 5ml syringe. The objective of the slow injection of the dye is so that it will deposit over the posterior hyloid/peripheral vitreous due to gravity. At this moment, photographic documentation will be performed.

After the dislocation of the posterior hyloid, the removal of the peripheral vitreous and the excess dye, a MachemerTM (Volk, Germany) macula magnifying lens will be used to improve visualization for the removal of the ILM using an intraocular tweezers. If the ILM is not visible, a second injection with the dye will be performed.

At the end of the surgery, all patients will receive medical prescription of drops with antibiotic and corticoid association during 1 week after the procedure, following vitrectomy post-surgical routine.

A questionnaire with 6 questions (ANNEX 1) will be handed to each surgeon after the end of the surgery.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

24

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • SP
      • São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 04023-062
        • Dept of Ophthalmology - UNIFESP/Hospital São Paulo

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:

  • Diagnosed with epiretinal membrane, macular hole or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (with or without vitreous hemorrhage).
  • Indicated for surgical removal of the epiretinal memebrane (with or without removal of the internal limiting membrane).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Previous ocular pathology
  • Glaucoma
  • Any other previous ocular infection that would modify ocular anatomy.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: acai dye (Euterpe oleracea) 10%

Twenty-four different retina surgeons will operate one of the 24 selected patients, using the standard vitrectomy technique that employs 4 sclerotomies and a 23-gauge system with accessory illumination. All surgeries will be performed using the acai dye (Euterpe oleracea) in the following concentrations: 10% (n=12) or 25% (n=12).

Immediately after the procedure, each surgeon will be given an evaluation questionnaire to fill-in

dye to be used during chromovitrectomy in humans
Other Names:
  • euterpe oleracea dye
Active Comparator: acai dye (Euterpe oleracea) 25%

Twenty-four different retina surgeons will operate one of the 24 selected patients, using the standard vitrectomy technique that employs 4 sclerotomies and a 23-gauge system with accessory illumination. All surgeries will be performed using the acai dye (Euterpe oleracea) in the following concentrations: 10% (n=12) or 25% (n=12).

Immediately after the procedure, each surgeon will be given an evaluation questionnaire to fill-in

dye to be used during chromovitrectomy in humans
Other Names:
  • euterpe oleracea dye

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
ocular inflammation
Time Frame: up to 30 days
signs of ocular inflammation
up to 30 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
intraocular pressure
Time Frame: up to 30 days
increase of intraocular pressure
up to 30 days
complications of the posterior segment
Time Frame: up to 30 days
macular edema
up to 30 days

Collaborators and Investigators

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

February 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 22, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

February 25, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 7, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2017

Last Verified

June 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

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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