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Laser Therapy Combined With Intravitreal Aflibercept vs Intravitreal Aflibercept Monotherapy (LADAMO)

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Diabetic Retinopathy
Interventions
Procedure: Targeted laser therapy
Registration Number
NCT02432547
Lead Sponsor
University of Sydney
Brief Summary

This will be a 24 month phase IV, randomised, prospective, multicentre, clinical trial of laser therapy to areas of peripheral retinal ischaemia combined with intravitreal aflibercept versus intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy. Both arms will have 2mg intravitreal aflibercept according to a treat and extend protocol.

The specific aim of the study is to test whether laser therapy of peripheral retinal ischaemia reduces the overall number of intravitreal aflibercept injections required to control DMO over a 24 month period.

Detailed Description

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in individuals between the ages of 20 and 65 years in developed countries. Swelling of the central retina, or "macular oedema", is the commonest cause of visual loss in diabetic retinopathy.

Recent studies have suggested peripheral retinal ischaemia contributes to macula oedema in diabetes and retinal vein occlusions. Intravitreal anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) therapy, such as Aflibercept (Eylea) has shown encouraging results in managing Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO). There is evidence that regular treatment with anti-VEGF drugs reduces DMO and improves vision on average.

Previous research at this institution has shown that an average of between 7 and 11 injections are required in the first year to stabilise the disease. However, there is a significant burden to patients in terms of frequent visits to the eye specialist, time off work and repeated injections into the eye. The purpose of this study is to see whether targeted peripheral retinal laser therapy to areas of the retina with impaired blood supply can reduce the number of intravitreal aflibercept injections required over 2 years to stabilise DMO.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • At screening, the study eye must have DMO with retinal thickness > 300 microns in central 1mm subfield on Spectral domain OCT
  • Age >= 18 years
  • Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
  • Best corrected visual acuity of 35-79 LogMAR letters at 4 meters (approximately 6/7.5-6/60) in the study eye
  • Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at the screening visit and prior to treatment. A woman is considered of childbearing potential unless she is postmenopausal and without menses for 12 months or is surgically sterilised
  • Peripheral retinal ischaemia affecting an area greater than 10 disc diameters of the wide-field fundus fluorescein angiogram (as per the Central Vein Occlusion Study)
  • Centre involving DMO, which in the opinion of the investigator, would not benefit from focal macular laser treatment (e.g. diffuse leak from the capillary bed, disruption of the foveal avascular zone or perifoveal capillary dropout, complete macular grid laser).
  • Written informed consent has been obtained
Exclusion Criteria
  • Known allergy to aflibercept or agents used in the study
  • Women who are pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy, or who are of childbearing potential and not using reliable means of contraception
  • Loss of vision due to other causes (e.g. age related macular degeneration, myopic macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion) in the study eye.
  • Macular oedema due to other causes in the study eye.
  • Macula hole, vitreo-macular traction or significant epiretinal membrane in the study eye.
  • An ocular condition that would prevent visual acuity improvement despite resolution of oedema (such as foveal atrophy or substantial premacular fibrosis)
  • Treatment with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) within the last 6 months or peribulbar triamcinolone within the last 3 months, or anti-VEGF drugs (bevacizumab, ranibizumab or aflibercept) within the last 2 months in the study eye.
  • Cataract surgery within the last 3 months in the study eye
  • Previous PRP laser treatment in the study eye
  • Previous vitrectomy in study eye
  • Media opacity including cataract that already precludes adequate macular photography or cataract that is likely to require surgery within 12 months
  • Intercurrent severe disease such as septicaemia, any condition which would affect follow-up or photographic documentation (e.g. geographical, psycho-social)
  • History of chronic renal failure requiring dialysis or renal transplant
  • Blood pressure >180/110
  • Patient has a condition or is in a situation that in the investigator's opinion may put the patient at significant risk, may confound the study results, or may interfere significantly with the patient's participation in the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Targeted laser therapy with AfliberceptTargeted laser therapyTargeted laser photocoagulation therapy to areas of peripheral retinal ischaemia and intravitreal aflibercept injections using a treat and extend regimen.
Aflibercept MonotherapyAfliberceptIntravitreal aflibercept injections according to a treat and extend regimen.
Targeted laser therapy with AfliberceptAfliberceptTargeted laser photocoagulation therapy to areas of peripheral retinal ischaemia and intravitreal aflibercept injections using a treat and extend regimen.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of intravitreal aflibercept injections over 24 months24 months

Number of intravitreal aflibercept injections in each of the 2 groups required over 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean change in best corrected visual acuity24 months

Mean change in best corrected visual acuity at 24 months

Number of intravitreal aflibercept injections over 12 months12 months

Number of intravitreal aflibercept injections in each of the 2 groups required over 12 months

Proportion of eyes that have central macular thickness <300 microns at 12 months12 months
Mean change in central macular thickness (CMT) as measured by OCT at 12 months12 months
Any change in best corrected visual acuity at 12 months12 months

Any change in best corrected visual acuity at 12 months

Effect of peripheral retinal ischaemia on number of aflibercept injections24 months

Correlation between area of peripheral retinal ischaemia and number of intravitreal injections required at 24 months

Disc vessel measurement24 months

Change in disc vessel diameter at 24 months

Number of intravitreal aflibercept injections in each of the 2 groups required over 24 months24 months
Proportion of eyes that have central macular thickness <300 microns at 24 months24 months
Mean change in central macular thickness (CMT) as measured by OCT at 24 months24 months
Any change in best corrected visual acuity at 24 months24 months

Any change in best corrected visual acuity at 24 months

Time until vision stabilisation24 months

Length of time from baseline to vision stabilisation

Quality of life assessment24 months

Quality of life assessment using IVI and NEI VFQ-25 forms at 24 months

Change in area of macular hard exudates24 months

Change in area of macular hard exudates from baseline to 24 months

Change in distance of closest hard exudate from the foveal centre24 months

Change in distance of closest hard exudate from the foveal centre between baseline and 24 months

Mean change in treatment interval over time24 months

Mean change in treatment interval between intravitreal aflibercept injections over time

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Centre for Eye Research Australia

🇦🇺

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Save Sight Institute

🇦🇺

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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