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Ranibizumab and the Risk of Arterial Thromboembolic Events

Phase 4
Terminated
Conditions
Coronary Artery Disease
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Interventions
Drug: 0.5 mg of ranibizumab
Procedure: 0.5 mg of ranibizumab + photodynamic therapy
Other: Sham injection
Registration Number
NCT01319188
Lead Sponsor
Ural State Medical University
Brief Summary

The investigators assume that ranibizumab might be dangerous in patients with history of coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular events. The main objective of study is to reveal contraindications for ranibizumab prescription in patients with history of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular events. Moreover, an association between management with ranibizumab and ATE rate in healthy above 50 years old persons is a concern of great interest as well.

Detailed Description

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative condition affecting the macula or central area of the retina in elderly people. Early AMD is marked by the presence of soft drusen and/or retinal pigment abnormality (hyper- and hypopigmentation). Late AMD includes 2 forms, nonneovascular (dry) AMD and neovascular (wet) AMD. Despite new medical and surgical interventions, AMD remains a leading cause of vision loss in elderly people all over the world.

Ranibizumab is one of the most effective approaches of AMD management. Ranibizumab - a recombinant, humanized, monoclonal antibody Fab that neutralizes all active forms of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF A) - has been evaluated for the treatment of AMD. Ranibizumab binds to the receptor binding site of active forms of VEGF-A. VEGF-A cause neovascularization and leakage in models of ocular angiogenesis and vascular occlusion, and is thought to contribute to the progression of neovascular AMD and macular edema following RVO. Prevents the interaction of VEGF-A with its receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) on the surface of endothelial cells, reducing endothelial cell proliferation, vascular leakage, and new blood vessel formation.

There have been a number of studies that have examined a possible association between ranibizumab and arterial thromboembolic events (ATE). The ATE rate in the three controlled neovascular AMD studies during the first year was 1.9% (17 out of 874; 0.3-0.5 mg LUCENTIS) vs 1.1% (5 out of 441) in control arms (AMD-1, AMD-2). In the second year the ATE rate was 2.6% (1323 patients; Lucentis 879) vs Control 444 (p \< 0.05). The ATE rate in the two controlled RVO studies (RVO-1, RVO-2) during the first six months was 0.8% (789 patients; Lucentis 527 vs Sham 262).

The investigators assume that ranibizumab can be rather dangerous in patients with history of coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular events. The main objective of study is to reveal contraindications for ranibizumab prescription in patients with history of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular events. Moreover, an association between management with ranibizumab and ATE rate in healthy above 50 years old persons is a concern of great interest as well.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
380
Inclusion Criteria
  • age - 50 years old and older
  • male and female
  • age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • have a lesion in the study eye with a total size of less than 12 optic disc areas for minimally classic or occult lesions but no more than 5400 μm in greatest linear dimension for predominantly classic lesions
  • have best corrected visual acuity of 6/12 to approximately 6/96 (Snellen equivalent), assessed with the use of charts from the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) (70 to 25 ETDRS 1 m equivalent letter scores; patients initially view the charts at a starting distance of 4 m, the number of correctly read letters are given a correction factor with the final letter score being the equivalent of a patient reading it at 1m. A score of 55 letters approximates to 6/24 Snellen acuity)
  • have no permanent structural damage to the central fovea
  • have had no previous treatment for exudative age related macular degeneration
  • healthy subjects (no history of cardio- or cerebrovascular events), or history of coronary artery disease (cardiovascular events - myocardial infarction, unstable angina), or history of cerebrovascular events (brain ischemia, and/or stroke), but not in the preceding six months
Exclusion Criteria
  • history of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, unstable angina) or cerebrovascular events in the preceding six months
  • stenting, or any surgery in the preceding six months
  • other acute illnesses in the preceding three months
  • III-IV NYHA functional class of heart failure
  • mental and brain disorders
  • pregnancy
  • family hypercholesterolemia
  • blood disorders
  • malignant tumors
  • participation to any drug investigation during the previous three months

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
0.5 mg of ranibizumab0.5 mg of ranibizumab-
injection + photodynamic therapy0.5 mg of ranibizumab + photodynamic therapy-
Sham injectionSham injection-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Arterial thromboembolic events rateat month 6, 12 and 24

This is a combined primary outcome that included:

* all cause mortality

* nonfatal stroke

* nonfatal myocardial infarction

* vascular death

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
NYHA (New York Heart Association) functional class of heart failureat month 6, 12 and 24

NYHA (New York Heart Association) functional class of heart failure

Diabetes mellitus morbidityat month 6, 12 and 24

Diabetes mellitus morbidity

Serum D-dimerat month 6, 12 and 24

Serum D-dimer measurements

Coronary and/or cerebral stenting, and/or CABG rateat month 6, 12 an 24

Coronary and/or cerebral stenting, and/or CABG rate

Serum concentration of ranibizumabat month 6, 12 and 24

Serum concentration of ranibizumab

Serum VEGFat month 6, 12 and 24

Measurement of serum VEGF

Mean change in visual acuity (letters)at month 6, 12 an 24

mean change in visual acuity (letters)

Total cholesterolat month 6, 12 and 24

Total cholesterol measurement

Systolic blood pressureat month 6, 12 and 24

Systolic blood pressure

Serum fibrinogenat month 6, 12 and 24

Serum fibrinogen measurements

Serum C-RPat month 6, 12 and 24

Serum C-RP measurements

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Ural Institute of Cardiology

🇷🇺

Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation

De Haar Research Foundation

🇳🇱

Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands

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