Active clinical trials for "Retinitis"

The long-term goal is to show that retinal transplantation can help to prevent blindness and to restore eyesight in patients with the inherited disease retinitis pigmentosa.

The outcome of this trial will reveal the possibilities of the retinal implant to improve the situation of patients with hereditary retinal blindness caused by degenerations of the outer retina. This pilot study will give important information on safety and efficacy of sub-retinal implants.

To compare the time to progression of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis among each of three doses of oral ganciclovir, as well as to intravenous therapy, when given as maintenance for 26 weeks. To compare the safety and tolerance among oral doses of ganciclovir at the study doses, as well as to intravenous therapy, when administered as maintenance for 26 weeks.

To assess the relative efficacy of oral versus intravenous hydration during foscarnet sodium (Foscavir) induction therapy, as determined by changes in creatinine clearance. To estimate the timing and volume of oral fluid hydration required to establish a diuresis before and during intravenous Foscavir therapy. To assess the general tolerance of two hydration regimens by the adverse event profile associated with each.

To make intravenous (IV) ganciclovir available to immunocompromised patients with life-threatening or sight-threatening Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, where the symptoms of the disease are too severe to allow admission to a controlled clinical study of ganciclovir therapy. To determine the safety and tolerance of 2 - 3 weeks induction course of ganciclovir IV followed by a maintenance course of ganciclovir IV for an indefinite duration. To tabulate the patient's clinical response.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of foscarnet induction therapy for treatment of AIDS patients experiencing their first episode of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of three different foscarnet maintenance therapy regimens. To determine the pharmacokinetics of intermittent administration of foscarnet with or without concomitant administration of zidovudine (AZT).

To compare the time to progression of CMV retinitis between oral ganciclovir and IV ganciclovir during 20 weeks of maintenance treatment. To compare the safety and tolerance of oral ganciclovir with IV ganciclovir therapy during 20 weeks of maintenance treatment. To describe the safety and tolerance of oral ganciclovir treatment when given concurrently with anti-retroviral treatment, e.g. zidovudine or ddI. To describe the survival of people with AIDS and CMV retinitis.

AMENDED: 04-12-91 Population of patients changed FROM those who are intolerant of systemic therapy with NON-sight-threatening CMV retinitis TO those AIDS patients intolerant of systemic therapy with CMV retinitis. AMENDED: 8/8/90. Changes made in neutrophils count from < 500 to < 750 cells/mm3. Nonrandomized eyes will not be used for the primary efficacy evaluation. ORIGINAL DESIGN: To determine the effectiveness and safety of ganciclovir (DHPG) therapy in AIDS patients suffering from active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the retina of the eye (retinitis) when the drug is administered directly into the fluid-filled vitreous cavity of the eye by injection. CMV retinitis is the most frequently seen opportunistic infection of the eye in AIDS patients, and left untreated can lead to severe visual loss and blindness. While systemic administration of DHPG has been shown to be an effective treatment for CMV retinitis, the chronic administration required may be complicated by decreased blood cell counts (granulocytopenia) which may require discontinuation of treatment. While withholding treatment may allow recovery from the granulocytopenia, interruption of therapy may result in reactivation of the retinitis. Injection of DHPG into the vitreous cavity of the eye may be of benefit to severely neutropenic patients with CMV retinitis.

To determine the therapeutic efficacy of a sustained-release intraocular drug delivery system for ganciclovir therapy of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

To compare the newest CMV retinitis drug, cidofovir, with a regimen of the ganciclovir intraocular device plus oral ganciclovir with respect to efficacy in preventing vision loss. To compare a treatment regimen that incorporates highly active local therapy (ganciclovir device) with a treatment regimen that does not.