The Possible Role of Thyroxine in Keratoconus Development

August 16, 2018 updated by: Amir abou Samra, Alexandria University
Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal ectatic disorders, with incidence rate 1 per 50,000 among the population. Hormonal imbalances may be associated with KC as it affects the corneal metabolism. In this study, we aim to examine this clinical association between thyroid gland dysfunction (TGD) and KC.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal ectatic disorders, with incidence rate 1 per 50,000 among the population. Moreover, the pathophysiological processes underlying KC have not been fully elucidated with proposed mechanisms to include proteolytic degradation in the corneal stroma, oxidative damage, epithelial mechanical injury, immunological factors, and genetic factors. However, Hormonal imbalances may be associated with KC as it affects the corneal metabolism. Furthermore, thyroid gland dysfunction (TGD) can frequently associated with eye diseases such as Graves disease. Previous studies investigated the association between TGD and KC. Interestingly, thyroxine (T4) is important for corneal dehydration and transparency during embryonic development and regulates the synthesis of keratin sulfate proteoglycan in the chicken. T4 receptors (T4Rs) have been found in the lacrimal gland, confirming that the tear producing gland is a target organ of T4. T4 level was elevated in the tears of patients with KC. Hence, in this study, we aim to investigate the clinical association between TGD and KC.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

150

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

      • Alexandria, Egypt
        • Recruiting
        • Alexandria Faculty of Medicine
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ahmed Elmasry, Ph.D.

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 to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

We will enroll all patients who meet the inclusion criteria and signed a written informed consent form.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with KC.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who cannot give an informed consent.
  • Patients who cannot provide needed samples for any reason

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
measuring the serum concentrations of free T4 (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Time Frame: We will recruit patients who meet the inclusion criteria during the study period of 3 months (June- August 2018). We will take only one blood sample from each patient recruited after the recrutiement and during this period
The endocrinologic examination will include measuring the serum concentrations of free T4 (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) using an immunoassay method (ADVIA Centaur; Bayer Diagnostics, Germany). The normal reference ranges for TSH and fT4 were determined to be 0.35 to 4.5 mIU/ L and 0.7 to 1.65 ng/dL, respectively. Clinical cases with fT4 serum concentrations beyond these reference ranges will be defined as TGD. All examinations will be handled anonymously.
We will recruit patients who meet the inclusion criteria during the study period of 3 months (June- August 2018). We will take only one blood sample from each patient recruited after the recrutiement and during this period

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 (Actual)

June 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

August 30, 2018

Study Completion (Anticipated)

September 15, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 15, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 16, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

August 20, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 20, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 16, 2018

Last Verified

August 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 5621

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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