Use of Intravitreal Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Vitreous Hemorrhage

This is an interventional treatment trial for Diabetic Retinopathy focused on measuring diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, intravitreal ranibizumab Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female patients >18 years of age who have signed an informed consent
• Patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus (according to ADA or WHO guidelines).
• Patients with visual impairment due to vitreous hemorrhage.
• Medication for the management of diabetes must have been stable within 3 months prior to randomization and is expected to remain stable during the course of the study.

Exclusion criteria:

Ocular concomitant conditions/ diseases

• Concomitant conditions in the study eye which could, in the opinion of the investigator, prevent the improvement of visual acuity on study treatment
• Active intraocular inflammation (grade trace or above) in either eye
• Any active infection (e.g. conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, uveitis, endophthalmitis) in either eye
• History of uveitis in either eye
• Ocular disorders in the study eye that may confound interpretation of study results, compromise visual acuity or require medical or surgical intervention during the 12-month study period, including retinal vascular occlusion, retinal detachment, macular hole, or choroidal neovascularization of any cause (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis, or pathologic myopia)
• Uncontrolled glaucoma in the study eye (according to investigator's judgment)
• Neovascularization of the iris in study eye
• Evidence of vitreomacular traction in study eye

Ocular treatments

• Panretinal laser photocoagulation in the study eye within 6 months or focal/grid laser photocoagulation in the study eye within 3 months prior to study entry
• Treatment with anti-angiogenic drugs (pegaptanib sodium, anecortave acetate, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, etc.) or intravitreal corticosteroids in either eye within 4 months prior to randomization
• Any intraocular surgery in the study eye within 3 months prior to randomization
• History of vitrectomy in study eye
• Phakic study eye with a history of intravitreal corticosteroid treatment
• Ocular conditions in the study eye that require chronic concomitant therapy with topical ocular or systemically administered corticosteroids

Systemic conditions or treatments

• History of disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug, might affect the interpretation of the results of the study, or renders the patient at high risk from treatment complications
• Renal failure requiring dialysis or renal transplant OR renal insufficiency with creatinine levels >2.0 mg/dl
• Untreated diabetes mellitus
• Severe (blood pressure systolic > 160 mmHg OR diastolic > 100 mmHg) AND untreated hypertension
• Current use of or likely need for systemic medications known to be toxic to the lens, retina or optic nerve, including Deferoxamine, Chloroquine/ hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Tamoxifen, Phenothiazines and Ethambutol
• Known hypersensitivity to ranibizumab or any component of the ranibizumab formulation or to fluorescein contrast.

Compliance/ Administrative

• Previous participation in any clinical studies of investigational drugs (excluding vitamins and minerals) within 1 month (or a period corresponding to 5 half-lives of the investigational drug, whatever is longer) prior to randomization
• Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, including women whose career, lifestyle, or sexual orientation precludes intercourse with a male partner and women whose partners have been sterilized by vasectomy or other means, UNLESS they are using two birth control methods. The two methods can be a double barrier method or a barrier method plus a hormonal method. Adequate barrier methods of contraception include: diaphragm, condom (by the partner), intrauterine device (copper or hormonal), sponge or spermicide. Hormonal contraceptives include any marketed contraceptive agent that includes an estrogen and/or a progestational agent.
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.
• Inability to comply with study or follow-up procedures.