 |
|
Efficacy of Low-Release-Rate Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implants to Treat Experimental Uveitis
Prithvi Mruthyunjaya, MD;
Dara Khalatbari, MD;
Ping Yang, MD, PhD;
Sandra Stinnett, DrPH;
Ryotaro Tano, MD;
Paul Ashton, PhD;
Hong Guo, PhD;
Marty Nazzaro, BS;
Glenn J. Jaffe, MD
Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:1012-1018.
Objective To determine the efficacy of 0.5-mg and 0.1-mg sustained-release fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implants to inhibit ocular inflammation in a rabbit model of severe uveitis.
Methods The in vitro pharmacokinetic profile of both the 0.5-mg and 0.1-mg sustained-release fluocinolone intravitreal implants was determined during a 10-day period. A sustained-release fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant with a release rate of either 0.5 µg/d (n = 16) or 0.1 µg/d (n = 16) was implanted into the vitreous cavity of the right eye in albino rabbits after a subcutaneous injection of tuberculin antigen. Control animals (n = 14) received empty devices. Uveitis was induced with an intravitreal tuberculin antigen injection. A masked observer graded anterior chamber flare, anterior chamber cells, vitreous opacity, and inflammation on histologic sections.
Results In vitro, the drug was released from both devices in a linear manner. In vivo, treated eyes were significantly less inflamed than untreated eyes (P .02). Inflammation was suppressed to a greater degree with the 0.5-µg/d implant compared with the 0.1-µg/d implant.
Conclusion Sustained-release fluocinolone intravitreal implants suppress ocular inflammation in a rabbit model of severe uveitis.
Clinical Relevance The efficacy demonstrated with the 0.1-µg/d implant provides the rationale for future human studies with lower-release-rate implants than are currently used in noninfectious uveitis clinical trials.
Author Affiliations: Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC (Drs Mruthyunjaya, Khalatbari, Yang, Stinnett, Tano, and Jaffe), and Control Delivery Systems, Inc, Watertown, Mass (Drs Ashton and Guo and Mr Nazzaro).
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Retisert: Is the New Advance in Treatment of Uveitis a Good One?
Mohammad et al.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2007;41:449-454.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
