Safety and Efficacy of Topical Tacrolimus 0.05% in the Treatment of Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Ocular GVHD
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Ocular GVHD focused on measuring GVHD, Ocular GVHD, Tacrolimus, Methylprednisolone
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥18 years.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Willing and able to comply with study assessments for the full duration of the study.
- Diagnosis of ocular GVHD.
- Minimum corneal fluorescein staining of 4 (NEI grading scheme, 0-15) in at least one eye.
- Ocular Surface Disease Index score >22.
- In good stable overall health.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of immune disease other than GVHD.
- Ocular or periocular malignancy.
- Significant change, as judged by the principal investigator, in systemic immunosuppressive regimen within 2 weeks of study entry.
- Any history of topical tacrolimus use.
- Any change in dosage of tetracycline compounds (tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline) within the last month.
- Any change in frequency of preserved anti-glaucoma medications within 2 weeks of study entry.
- Current use of topical steroids more than twice a day.
- Change in frequency of serum tears, topical cyclosporine and/or topical kineret within the last month.
- Corneal epithelial defect >1mm2.
- Any history of herpetic keratitis.
- Participation in another simultaneous medical research study.
- Signs of current infection, including fever and current treatment with antibiotics.
- Intra-ocular surgery or ocular laser surgery within 3 months.
- Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test) or lactating
- Has worn contact lenses, except for bandage contact lens or rigid gas permeable lens, for the last 2 weeks prior to the study or would be unable to stay off contact lenses for the study duration.
- Any condition (including language barrier) that precludes patient's ability to comply with study requirements including completion of study.
Sites / Locations
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Tacrolimus
Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate
Topical tacrolimus suspension will be formulated and aseptically prepared from commercially available intravenous tacrolimus, PROGRAF® (Astellas Pharma US, Inc), and transferred into a sterile dropper container by the MEEI pharmacy. A formulation of 0.05% (5mg/10ml) concentration of tacrolimus with diluting solvent, LiquiTears Ophthalmic Solution (Major Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) will be used. Patients will be instructed to keep refrigerated each bottle after opening for 9 days and keep frozen the unopened bottles up to 45 days. They will also be instructed to shake the bottles at least 20 times before using it.
Topical methylprednisolone sodium succinate suspension will be formulated and aseptically prepared from commercially available sterile dry powder vial preservative-free for intravenous use, SOLU-MEDROL® (Pfizer, Inc.). A formulation of 0.5% (5mg/1ml) concentration of methylprednisolone with diluting solvents, LiquiTears Ophthalmic Solution (Major Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) will be used. Patients will be instructed to keep refrigerated each bottle after opening for 9 days and keep frozen the unopened bottles up to 45 days. They will also be instructed to shake the bottles at least 20 times before using it.