Clinical Trial: Fluorometholone as Ancillary Therapy for TT Surgery

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Fluorometholone 0.1% as Perioperative Adjunct Therapy for Lid-rotation Surgery in Trachomatous Entropion and Trichiasis, Dose-varying Study

Brief Summary: The investigators aim to evaluate a new potentially cost-effective approach to improving trichiasis surgery outcomes, perioperative topical anti-inflammatory therapy. The investigators hypothesize that adjunctive topical fluorometholone therapy following trichiasis surgery will reduce the risk of recurrent trichiasis. The rationale for this hypothesis is that interruption of inflammation postoperatively would reduce postoperative scarring, leading to better outcomes. As an initial step toward evaluating this modality, the investigators believe it to be necessary to evaluate topical corticosteroid therapy in a safety-oriented study, for which the investigators also hypothesize that fluorometholone will have a perioperative safety profile acceptable for large-scale programmatic use. Topical corticosteroid therapy is associated with potential risks of cataract induction and intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in susceptible individuals. Fluorometholone has lower intraocular penetration than alternative corticosteroids, with correspondingly less IOP-raising effect while still having favorable effects on conjunctival inflammation, and is a low-cost generic drug. Its poor delivery of corticosteroid into the eye itself provides an advantage in this setting, as the major side effects of therapy are the result of intraocular effects, and therapy only is needed to the conjunctiva. However, prior to use in a large-scale trial it is sensible to make sure adverse outcomes are not observed in a substantial number of TT patients in a smaller scale trial. Secondary goals of such a trial are to evaluate alternative topical corticosteroid dosing schedules to identify an optimal dosing schedule and to identify any preliminary signals of potential efficacy.

Detailed Summary:

Protocol Title: Fluorometholone 0.1% as Perioperative Adjunct Therapy for Lid-rotation Surgery in Trachomatous Entropion and Trichiasis, Dose-varying Study

Study Design: Randomized, double-masked, dose-ranging study of three dose levels of fluorometholone 0.1% or placebo in one eye of subjects with trachomatous trichiasis (TT) undergoing lid rotation surgery

Primary Study Objective: Evaluate the safety and tolerability of three (3) doses of fluorometholone 0.1% in subjects with trachomatous trichiasis (TT) undergoing lid rotation surgery (Bilamellar Tarsal Rotation)

Secondary Study Objective: Conduct a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of three (3) doses of fluorometholone 0.1% in subjects with trachomatous trichiasis (TT) undergoing lid rotation surgery (Bilamellar Tarsal Rotation)

Number of Subjects: Up to 156 eyes of up to 156 subjects

Study Population: Subjects with trachomatous trichiasis (TT) undergoing lid rotation surgery (Bilamellar Tarsal Rotation)

Test Articles:

  1. Fluorometholone 0.1% one drop twice daily for four weeks
  2. Placebo one drop twice daily for four weeks
  3. Fluorometholone 0.1% one drop four times daily for four weeks
  4. Placebo one drop four times daily for four weeks
  5. Fluorometholone 0.1% one drop four times daily for eight weeks
  6. Placebo one drop four times daily for eight weeks

Visit Schedule: Follow
Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Current Primary Outcome: Safety assessments [ Time Frame: Within one year of randomization ]

Incident cataract is defined as either: 1) a two-step worsening on the nuclear, cortical, and/or posterior subcapsular LOCS-3 scale; or 2) undergoing cataract surgery prior to that point in follow-up.

Intraocular pressure elevation

Other dose-limiting toxicity: 1) SAEs (see below) judged as likely related to the treatment by the investigators; 2) vision-threatening non-trachoma infections, e.g., corneal ulcer; 3) anaphylaxis or other events requiring immediate resuscitation; or 4) when the clinician-investigators determine that other AEs observed in a subject would make future applications of the treatment contraindicated on the basis of side effects.



Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Recurrence of trichiasis in the study eye [ Time Frame: Within one year of randomization ]

Lashes touching the globe or cornea


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Pennsylvania

Dates:
Date Received: September 19, 2013
Date Started: November 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: April 20, 2016
Last Verified: April 2016