Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection Under Prostaglandin Analogues

NCT ID: NCT07074782

Last Updated: 2025-12-15

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

1500 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-31

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this observational study is to evaluate whether prostaglandin analogue eye drops have a direct neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells - beyond their intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect - in adult patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The study includes individuals diagnosed with glaucoma (any sex/gender, adult age groups) undergoing standard clinical treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Do prostaglandin analogues provide a neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells that is independent of their IOP-lowering properties?
* Should prostaglandin analogues be promoted/favoured over other IOP-lowering compounds for long-term glaucoma management?

Researchers will compare an interventional group, which consist of 750 eyes treated with prostaglandin analogues (e.g., latanoprost, travoprost, tafluprost, bimatoprost, unoprostone), with a control group, which consist of 750 eyes treated with non-prostaglandin IOP-lowering compounds (e.g., timolol, dorzolamide, brimonidine, netarsudil) to see if treatment with prostaglandin analogues is associated with better retinal ganglion cell survival over a period of 3 years (36 months).

Data will be collected from individuals who had at least 36 months of documented follow-up, with clinical data available at approximately 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Eligible individuals must have been treated with either prostaglandin analogues or other intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering agents as part of routine clinical care. The data to be obtained from medical records will include at least:

* Intraocular pressure readings
* Visual field testing
* OCT measures
* Visual acuity
* Adverse events
* Treatment adherence/compliance
* Additional glaucoma interventions

Detailed Description

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Glaucoma is among the most prevalent causes of irreversible blindness and is characterized by a progressive, irreversible degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most important glaucoma risk factor and the only risk factor that is readily modifiable with established treatment options, which include pharmacological approaches, laser treatment, and surgery. However, in many patients the disease progresses even after IOP is effectively lowered. Hence, neuroprotective treatment approaches that go beyond IOP lowering are needed.

Prostaglandin analogue eye drops reduce IOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow and are a well-established treatment option in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Animal studies suggest that prostaglandin analogues may have a direct neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells in addition to the effect mediated by IOP lowering. Proposed mechanisms of action include inhibiting of caspase-3 and cyclooxygenase as well as activation of polypeptide 2B1 and Klotho protein. However, this proposed additional, direct neuroprotective effect has not yet been tested in human patients. The viability and functional status of the retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma can be assessed by morphological readings, the standard nowadays being various optical coherence tomography modalities, and by visual field testing. Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells (DARC) is another, relatively novel technology that allows for quantification of retinal ganglion cell death, presumably on a much shorter time scale.

This is an observational, retrospective and longitudinal clinical study, according to the normal clinical practice.

This study aims to evaluate prostaglandin analogues neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells apart from intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering over a period of 3 years (36 months) and whether treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma participants with prostaglandin analogues should be promoted/ favoured over other IOP-lowering compounds. It will have a follow-up at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months in eyes with glaucoma treated with prostaglandin analogues or a different topically applied compound.

Conditions

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Glaucoma

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Control Group (Non-Prostaglandin IOP-lowering compound)

750 eyes treated with intraocular pressure-lowering compounds that do not belong to the prostaglandin analogue class. These treatments may include beta-adrenergic blocking agents (e.g., timolol, betaxolol), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., dorzolamide, brinzolamide), alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (e.g., brimonidine) or rho kinase inhibitors (e.g., netarsudil).

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventional group (prostaglandin analogues)

750 eyes treated with any prostaglandin analogue, such as latanoprost (e.g., Xalatan® 50 µg/mL, Pfizer), travoprost, tafluprost, bimatoprost, or unoprostone.

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18+ years
* Established glaucoma diagnosis (primary open-angle glaucoma, normal tension Glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, pigmentary dispersion glaucoma) in either eye
* Visual field mean deviation (MD; location-weighted mean difference from average age-corrected visual field sensitivity) of 2 visual fields differing by no more than 3 dB, for a mean deviation of better than -6.0 dB, or by no more than 4 dB, for a mean deviation worse than -6.0 dB, as measured using Humphrey perimetry (or equivalent Haag-Streit / Octopus; in at least one eye; analogous to The United Kingdom Glaucoma Treatment Study)
* Treatment with either prostaglandin analogues only or another topically applied IOP-lowering compound only for at least 3 years
* Documented follow-up period of at least 3 years
* At least 6 patient visits documented over the follow-up period with readings of IOP, visual field, OCT
* No additional glaucoma intervention apart from laser trabeculoplasty and/or cataract surgery during the observational period

Exclusion Criteria

* Follow-up period \< 3 years
* Number of patient visits \<6 visits
* Number of OCT, visual field readings during the observation period \< 6
* Low compliance/therapy interruption
* Beginning of combination therapy of prostaglandin analogues and other IOP lowering eye drops during the observation period
* In case of glaucoma diagnosis in both eyes: different topical IOP-lowering treatment regimes (e.g. prostaglandin analogues in one eye and beta-adrenergic blocking agents in the fellow eye)
* Additional glaucoma intervention during the observational period other than laser trabeculoplasty and/or cataract surgery
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network

NETWORK

Sponsor Role collaborator

Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Department of Ophthalmology University of Bonn

Bonn, , Germany

Site Status

University Eye Hospital Leipzig

Leipzig, , Germany

Site Status

Centre for Clinical Trials at San Paolo Hospital University of Milan

Milan, , Italy

Site Status

Eye Unit, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità

Novara, , Italy

Site Status

Centro de Oftalmologia Barraquer

Barcelona, , Spain

Site Status

Retina Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Bellvitge University Hospital

Barcelona, , Spain

Site Status

University Hospital Basel

Basel, , Switzerland

Site Status

Clinical Eye Research Centre - St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Liverpool, , United Kingdom

Site Status

ICORG - Imperial College Ophthalmologic Research Group

London, , United Kingdom

Site Status

NIHR Moorfields Clinical Research Facility, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust

London, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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Germany Italy Spain Switzerland United Kingdom

Central Contacts

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Ana S Silva, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+351239480112

Liliana C Soares, MsC

Role: CONTACT

+351239480105

Facility Contacts

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Karl Mercieca

Role: primary

Jan Darius Unterlauff

Role: primary

Luca Rossetti

Role: primary

Alessandro Rabiolo

Role: primary

Silvia S Moreno

Role: primary

Tim J Enz

Role: primary

Eduardo Normando

Role: primary

HARI JAYARAM

Role: primary

References

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Other Identifiers

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ECR-GLC-2025-18

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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