MedPath

Gene Polymorphisms of Corticosteroid-induced Ocular Hypertension

Completed
Conditions
Corticosteroid Induced Ocular Hypertension/Glaucoma
Interventions
Other: SNP analysis
Registration Number
NCT03250819
Lead Sponsor
Maastricht University Medical Center
Brief Summary

Glaucoma is one of the most prevalent eye diseases and the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. The most common form is primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Glaucoma is a slowly progressing neuropathy of the optic nerve that causes loss of visual field and eventually blindness. Elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) is the most important risk factor.

Corticosteroids, which are often used for the treatment of many diseases in ophthalmology and other specialities, may cause an elevation of the IOP. It is estimated that corticosteroids induce ocular hypertension in approximately 18%-36% of the general population and in patients with POAG this percentage can be as high as 92%. When the treatment is sustained, this can cause a glaucomatous neuropathy of the optic nerve (corticosteroid-induced glaucoma).

The precise pathogenic mechanism isn't clear yet. Genetic factors are likely to affect the susceptibility to corticosteroid response. Therefore, an overview of the genetic mechanisms of corticosteroid-induced glaucoma can give more insight in the pathogenesis. In this study the researchers investigate the occurrence of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in 150 cases with a steroid-response in comparison with 300 controls exposed to corticosteroids without a steroid-response.

Up to now, one small GWAS has been conducted comparing 32 patients with and without corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension after treatment with intravitreal triamcinolone. In this study, two SNPs proximal of the transcriptional start site (near the 5') of HCG22 on chromosome 6 were identified. However, this is a rather small sample population and the investigators didn't match for the underlying disease. Further, in another small study, Hogewind et al. performed SNP analysis in multiple genes (SFRS3, FKBP4, FKBP5, and NR3C1) in corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension.

This study enables the investigators to identify patients at risk for developing corticosteroid-induced glaucoma and to gain a better insight in the pathogenesis. This may also lead to the discovery of biomarkers that indicate an increased risk of developing a steroid-induced glaucoma and new prevention and treatment strategies, which are necessary as the treatment of corticosteroid induced-glaucoma now only focuses at lowering the IOP and can still be challenging.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
370
Inclusion Criteria
  • Use of corticosteroids:
  • Patients treated with Ozurdex (an intravitreal dexamethasone implant
  • Patients treated with subconjunctival Triamcinolone/ Celestone injections
  • Patients treated with corticosteroids after a corneal surgery
  • Patients treated with corticosteroids after a refractive surgery
  • Patients treated with corticosteroids after a cataract surgery
  • Patients treated with corticosteroids for macular edema
  • Patients exposed to corticosteroids for other diseases such as uveitis
  • When using topical corticosteroids, time of use > 3 months
  • Age > 18 year and mentally competent
  • Patient from the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), the Netherlands
Exclusion Criteria
  • Age < 18 year
  • Mentally not able to participate or give permission
  • Not able to communicate in Dutch
  • Patients with a type of uveitis that might cause a decrease of the IOP
  • When using topical corticosteroids, time of use < 3 months.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Corticosteroid respondersSNP analysisPatients who develop an increase in eye pressure after the use of corticosteroids
Non-corticosteroid respondersSNP analysisPatients who use/used corticosteroids but didn't develop an increase in eye pressure
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Differences in SNP's in corticosteroid responders and non-respondersAt the time of inclusion

What are the differences in SNPs in patients with corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension in comparison with patients exposed to corticosteroids who do not respond with an IOP increase

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht UMC+

🇳🇱

Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath