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Treating Dry Eyes and Corneal Ulcers With Fingerprick Autologous Blood (FAB)

Primary Purpose

Dry Eyes, Sjogren's Disease With Dry Eyes, Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defects

Status
Unknown status
Phase
Phase 3
Locations
United Kingdom
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Your own ( autologous) finger prick of blood produced with a diabetic lancet
Sponsored by
Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Dry Eyes focused on measuring Finger prick with diabetic lancet, Fingerprick, Fresh, Your own blood, autologous blood, Dry eyes, Sjogren's disease with dry eyes, Persistent corneal epithelial defects, Chronic corneal ulcers

Eligibility Criteria

16 Years - undefined (Child, Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

For Dry Eyes

  • Patients with symptoms of dry eyes on at least QDS lubricants and who in addition:

    1. Satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

      Break up time (BUT) <5 seconds and Schirmer's test without anaesthesia <5 mm at 5 minutes OR presence of rose bengal /lissamine green or fluorescein staining of the ocular surface OR more than 80% score on OCI due to dry eyes (total score greater than or equal to 29/36)

    2. All patients must have unsuccessfully tried cyclosporine ointment or eye drops and temporary or permanent plugs or been offered punctual plugs and refused.

      For Corneal Ulceration

  • Patients with epithelial defects of at least 2 weeks duration where conventional therapy failed. (Conventional therapy includes [if indicated] lubricants, antibiotic ointment, steroids and therapeutic contact lens wear)
  • Any patient with an epithelial defect of at least 4 weeks' duration that has not completely healed with conventional therapy or who are refusing further conventional therapy. These patients would receive FAB therapy instead of tarsorrhaphy or botulinum toxin induced ptosis.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Fear of needles and unwillingness to carry out repeat finger pricks
  • Infected finger or systemic infection or on systemic antibiotics for infection.
  • Bleeding disorders and on warfarin anticoagulant therapy
  • Epithelial defect was classified as a progressive corneal melt caused by an immunological process such as rheumatoid melt or Mooren's ulceration.
  • Patients with active microbial infection, acute herpes simplex or herpes zoster keratitis, drug toxicity, vitamin A deficiency, or recurrent corneal erosion.
  • Past Ophthalmic history of corneal transplantation.
  • Pregnant or breast feeding women
  • Children (under 16 years old).

Sites / Locations

  • Moorfields Eye Centre at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm Type

Experimental

Arm Label

Fingerprick of autologous blood (FAB)

Arm Description

Fingerprick of autologous blood (FAB) four times a day for 2 months

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Corneal ulcers / epithelial defects: Ulcers to heal within 4 weeks. Dry eyes: To improve signs (corneal and conjunctival staining, Schirmer's test, tear break up time ) or symptoms ( ocular comfort index questionnaire)
Follow ups are 3 days, 2 weeks , 4 weeks and 2 months after commencing treatment. Then again 1 month after stopping treatment. Criteria to stop treatment based on patient safety such as finger infection in protocol.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
May 2, 2014
Last Updated
October 12, 2016
Sponsor
Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
Collaborators
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Mater Infirmary Hospital Belfast, UK., Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Heart of England NHS Trust, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Midland Eye Centre
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT02153515
Brief Title
Treating Dry Eyes and Corneal Ulcers With Fingerprick Autologous Blood
Acronym
FAB
Official Title
Fingerprick Fresh Blood for Treatment of Chronic Corneal Ulcers, Persistent Epithelial Defects and Dry Eyes
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2016
Overall Recruitment Status
Unknown status
Study Start Date
April 2014 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
August 2017 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
November 2017 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
Collaborators
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Mater Infirmary Hospital Belfast, UK., Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Heart of England NHS Trust, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Midland Eye Centre

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
To investigate if fresh finger prick autologous blood (FAB) instead of serum from venesection, is a safe and effective treatment for dry eyes and corneal ulcers/ epithelial defects. Currently there are no studies on the use of whole fresh blood for the treatment of chronic ulcers, persistent epithelial defects or dry eyes. Unpublished case reports indicate that fresh blood can be an effective tool to the treatment of corneal pathology.
Detailed Description
Background Autologous serum is used for chronic ulcers and dry eyes. Currently there are no studies on the use of whole fresh blood for the treatment of chronic ulcers, persistent epithelial defects or dry eyes. Dry eye syndrome (DES) refers to a common but highly heterogeneous group of ocular surface disorders with varying disease severity, due to lack of sufficient tears or sufficient quality of tears. Corneal and conjunctival studies, using a variety of definitions, have estimated the prevalence of ''significant'' DES to be about 10-20% in the adult population, although fortunately severe DES is less frequent (Hikichi et al., 1995; Bjerrum, 1997; Doughty et al., 1997; Bandeen-Roche et al., 1997; Caffery et al., 1998; McCarty et al., 1998; Schein et al., 1999; Moss et al., 2000; Begley et al., 2002; Chia et al., 2003; Lin et al., 2003; Schaumberg et al., 2003). Dry eye is usually managed with conventional treatment of artificial tears, punctual plugs, occlusive goggles and bandage contact lenses. In spite of maximal conventional therapy, there is a cohort of patients who have persistent symptoms and signs. This represents a more serious ocular surface disorder with patients having significant visual impairment and disability. Particularly severe dry eye might be managed with contact lenses, botulinum toxin induced ptosis and surgical tarsorrhapy. These treatments are not without their own hazards such as infection from contact lenses, reduced vision from the ptosis or surgical tarsorrhapy, particularly in only seeing eyes. Corneal ulcers are usually managed with artificial tears, antibiotic ointment, bandage contact lenses and steroids. Autologous serum eye drops have been found in uncontrolled trials to be beneficial in these patients, improving the ocular surface and reducing symptoms (Poon et al., 2001; Fox et al., 1984; Tsubota et all, 1999;). In addition, impression cytology and in vitro toxicity testing demonstrated that serum drops have reduced toxicity compared with unpreserved hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Noble et al., 2004; Poon et al., 2001) Obtaining serum requires frequent venesection with significant amount of blood taken. It is also expensive. The serum is aliquoted into hundreds of bottles with the additional risk of bacterial contamination. It also requires a fridge and storage facilities for these aliquoted bottles at the patient's home. Because of these requirements some patients are excluded, for example patients with anaemia because they are unable to give blood. In addition, often there is a delay in starting the treatment for organizational and / or funding reasons that can be detrimental to the course of the disease, causing unnecessary surgery and corneal melt resulting in perforation with potential loss of the eye. The FAB method could be used immediately for patients who are awaiting conventional treatment for autologous blood. Furthermore it also appears that 100% autologous serum is more beneficial than 50% serum (Poon et al), thereby larger volumes of blood and/or more frequent venesection is required. Autologous fresh blood is already used subconjunctivally to help heal leaking trabeculectomy blebs (Dinah et al.2010; Biswas et al. 2009; Burnstein et al. 2001; Haynes et al., 1999). Autologous blood is also used to help attach limbal autografts in cases of pterygium (de Wit et al. 2010) and in vitreoretinal macular hole surgery (Lai et al. 2009; Chuang et al. 2010; McCannel et al. 2008; Lai et al.,2005). No adverse effects have been reported in these studies. The object of this study is to investigate if serum via a drop of fresh blood is an effective treatment for dry eye and corneal ulcers which currently require venesected autologous blood and would be particularly useful in the current group of patients in whom venesection is contraindicated. If shown to be effective this may replace current autologous serum practice and its ease of use and reduced cost may mean that it could be extended to other ocular surface diseases or moderate dry eyes and used earlier in corneal epithelial defects.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Dry Eyes, Sjogren's Disease With Dry Eyes, Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defects, Chronic Corneal Ulcers
Keywords
Finger prick with diabetic lancet, Fingerprick, Fresh, Your own blood, autologous blood, Dry eyes, Sjogren's disease with dry eyes, Persistent corneal epithelial defects, Chronic corneal ulcers

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 3
Interventional Study Model
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
N/A
Enrollment
60 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Fingerprick of autologous blood (FAB)
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Fingerprick of autologous blood (FAB) four times a day for 2 months
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Your own ( autologous) finger prick of blood produced with a diabetic lancet
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Corneal ulcers / epithelial defects: Ulcers to heal within 4 weeks. Dry eyes: To improve signs (corneal and conjunctival staining, Schirmer's test, tear break up time ) or symptoms ( ocular comfort index questionnaire)
Description
Follow ups are 3 days, 2 weeks , 4 weeks and 2 months after commencing treatment. Then again 1 month after stopping treatment. Criteria to stop treatment based on patient safety such as finger infection in protocol.
Time Frame
One month for corneal ulcers. Dry eyes 2 months.

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
16 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: For Dry Eyes Patients with symptoms of dry eyes on at least QDS lubricants and who in addition: Satisfy at least one of the following criteria: Break up time (BUT) <5 seconds and Schirmer's test without anaesthesia <5 mm at 5 minutes OR presence of rose bengal /lissamine green or fluorescein staining of the ocular surface OR more than 80% score on OCI due to dry eyes (total score greater than or equal to 29/36) All patients must have unsuccessfully tried cyclosporine ointment or eye drops and temporary or permanent plugs or been offered punctual plugs and refused. For Corneal Ulceration Patients with epithelial defects of at least 2 weeks duration where conventional therapy failed. (Conventional therapy includes [if indicated] lubricants, antibiotic ointment, steroids and therapeutic contact lens wear) Any patient with an epithelial defect of at least 4 weeks' duration that has not completely healed with conventional therapy or who are refusing further conventional therapy. These patients would receive FAB therapy instead of tarsorrhaphy or botulinum toxin induced ptosis. Exclusion Criteria: Fear of needles and unwillingness to carry out repeat finger pricks Infected finger or systemic infection or on systemic antibiotics for infection. Bleeding disorders and on warfarin anticoagulant therapy Epithelial defect was classified as a progressive corneal melt caused by an immunological process such as rheumatoid melt or Mooren's ulceration. Patients with active microbial infection, acute herpes simplex or herpes zoster keratitis, drug toxicity, vitamin A deficiency, or recurrent corneal erosion. Past Ophthalmic history of corneal transplantation. Pregnant or breast feeding women Children (under 16 years old).
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Anant Sharma, FRCOphth
Organizational Affiliation
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust and Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
Official's Role
Study Chair
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Moorfields Eye Centre at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
City
Bedford
State/Province
Bedfordshire
ZIP/Postal Code
MK42 9DJ
Country
United Kingdom

12. IPD Sharing Statement

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Treating Dry Eyes and Corneal Ulcers With Fingerprick Autologous Blood

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