Ocular Blood Flow in Early Glaucoma Patients Before and After Treatment With Dorzolamide

NCT ID: NCT00152932

Last Updated: 2007-07-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

17 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-05-31

Study Completion Date

2006-06-30

Brief Summary

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Impaired ocular blood flow is an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). A few studies suggest that topical dorzolamide 2% may increase optic nerve perfusion. The objectives of this study are to learn the effects of dorzolamide on the retinal and optic nerve blood flow of glaucoma patients.

The present study is a prospective, randomized, double-masked, crossover design study of newly diagnosed or already treated patients with early glaucoma.

The investigators will check ocular blood flow parameters using the Canon Laser Blood Flowmeter (CLBF), used to evaluate retinal arteriole blood flow, and the Heidelberg retinal flowmeter (HRF), which measures blood flow through capillary beds in the retina and optic nerve head.

Any demonstrated improvements to retinal and optic nerve blood flow with dorzolamide, will mean that the drug may protect against ischaemic nerve and retinal damage. Any documented improvement in flow could lead to a major change in the management of glaucoma patients as well as other retinal ischemic diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and central retinal vein occlusion.

Detailed Description

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High intraocular pressure (IOP) is the major risk factor for glaucoma. Lowering intraocular pressure is still the only accepted form of treatment for glaucoma.

Over the past decade, epidemiological and experimental evidence suggested that impaired ocular blood flow is an important risk factor with an important role in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Several studies suggest that ischemia-promoting vascular factors may contribute to glaucomatous damage including vasospasm, impaired ocular perfusion pressure and general vascular disorders such as low blood pressure, especially dips in blood pressure at night.

Different techniques are employed to assess vascular dysfunction in the eye. As the methodology of ocular blood flow assessment is complex and differs in various aspects (e.g. target tissue and physiological parameters), comparative studies are required in order to enhance the interpretation of these measurements.

Our laboratory has state of the art equipment to assess ocular blood flow. One study done by us suggested that one drop of Dorzolamide 2% does not improve retinal blood flow in normal eyes. In the present study we plan to extend this study to 2 weeks of treatment in patients with POAG.

Dorzolamide hydrochloride 2% is a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor which reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) by decreasing the production of aqueous humour. Pharmacological studies on volunteers and glaucoma patients, using Color Doppler Imaging (measuring the retrobulbar blood flow) and Scanning laser Ophthalmoscopy (measuring arteriovenous passage time), indicate that topically applied Dorzolamide may increase perfusion of the optic nerve and peripapillary retina.

Conditions

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Glaucoma

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Interventions

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Dorzolamide 2% drops

Intervention Type DRUG

HRF and CLBF

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Males or females 20-80 years of age.
2. Presence of typical early glaucomatous optic disc changes (cup/disc ratio ≤ 0.75) and/or early glaucomatous visual field defects (mean deviation less than 5dB and outside of 10° from fixation) in the study eye at the baseline visit.
3. Best corrected visual acuity of at least 20/40.
4. Signed informed consent from the subject
5. The subject should be able to understand the instructions and perform the HRF and CLBF tests as well as be willing and able to comply with the study schedule and treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnant women or nursing mothers.
2. Any other active ocular disease (ocular infections, Uveitis, etc.)
3. Known allergy or sensitivity to the study medications.
4. Functionally significant visual field loss (mean deviation greater than 5dB) or cup/disc ratio greater than 0.75 or evidence of progressive visual field loss within the last 6 months.
5. Required chronic use of other ocular or systemic hypotensive medications during the study, other than the study medication (e.g. beta-blockers, Ca-channel blockers)
6. Vascular occlusive disease affecting the ocular circulation such as: diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, central retinal artery occlusion, or non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.
7. Previous intraocular surgery or ocular traumas.
8. Any past history of serious systemic condition affecting cerebral circulation including: hypertension, diabetes, cerebral vascular accident (CVA), or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Health Network, Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Graham E Trope, MB, FRCSC

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology

Chris Hudson, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Department of Ophthalmology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto

John Flanagan, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Department of Ophthalmology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto

Yvonne M Buys, MD, FRCSC

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto

Locations

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Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Toronto Western Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Rony Rachmiel, MD

Role: CONTACT

416-603-5317

Facility Contacts

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Rony Rachmiel, MD

Role: primary

416-603-5317

Graham E Trope, MB PhD, FRCSC

Role: backup

416-603-5317

Other Identifiers

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04-0645-A

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id