Active clinical trials for "Retinitis"

Patients suffering from hereditary retinal degeneration receive a retinal implant to restore sight. Subretinal implant "ON" results in significant visual acuity improvement, when compared to "OFF" condition.

This study will evaluate the safety of a ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) implant placed in the eye to allow the release of CNTF directly on the retina. The results of this study may lead to a larger investigation of CNTF implants to treat retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive degenerative eye disease that begins with loss of peripheral vision and night blindness and often leads to blindness in later life. Currently, there are no effective treatments for RP. Researchers have found, however, that certain proteins, called ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), can partially protect cells in the eye if given directly inside the eye. A major challenge in treating RP is to deliver medicine directly into the eye. One way to ensure that CNTF gets into the eye is to surgically place an implant inside the eye to release the protein. Patients 18 years of age and older with retinitis pigmentosa whose visual acuity is 20/100 or worse may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, eye examinations, and eye photographs. The eye examination includes measurement of visual acuity and eye pressure, examination of the pupils and eye movements, and examination of the lens and back of the eye. In addition, patients will have the following tests: Visual field test: Patients look at a central spot on a white screen and tell the examiner whenever they see a small light appear at other places on the screen. Electroretinogram (ERG): Electrodes are taped to the patient's forehead. Special contact lenses are placed on the eyes, similar to normal contact lenses, after the eye has been numbed with drops. The contact lenses sense small electrical signals generated by the retina. The ERG measures the electrical activity of the retina when it is stimulated by light. For the ERG recording, the patient looks inside a large, hollow, dark sphere, and sees flashes of light, first in the dark, and then with a light turned on in the sphere. Optical coherence tomography: This test, done with the machine used to examine the eye, measures retinal thickness by producing cross-sectional pictures of the retina. Participants undergo surgery at the NIH Clinical Center in a 30-minute operation to place the implant in one eye. The surgery is done under local anesthetic. Before the procedure, patients are given a steroid injection along side the eye to minimize inflammation after surgery. Following the procedure, patients return for follow-up visits once a month for 6 months. At these visits, several of the exams described above are repeated to evaluate treatment effects and check for adverse side effects. After 6 months, the implant is surgically removed. Post-surgical care for both implant and explant surgeries include examinations the day and week after surgery to examine the wound, a high dose of steroid immediately after surgery, oral antibiotics for 7 days, and eye drops for 1 week to prevent infection and inflammation.

To evaluate the safety and tolerance of cidofovir (HPMPC) infusions in AIDS patients with relapsing cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. To determine the time to retinitis progression in this patient population. To evaluate the impact of cidofovir therapy on visual acuity.

To determine a clinically safe and effective dose of intravitreally injected ISIS 2922 and to compare the safety and efficacy of immediate versus delayed treatment in AIDS patients with previously untreated, peripheral cytomegalovirus ( CMV ) retinitis.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ISIS 2922 in AIDS patients with Cytomegalovirus ( CMV ) retinitis who are unresponsive or intolerant to ganciclovir and/or foscarnet but are otherwise ineligible for ISIS Pharmaceuticals' controlled trials OR who have failed ISIS 2922 therapy on another controlled clinical trial. PER 2/8/96 AMENDMENT: Patients must rollover from another ISIS 2922 controlled trial.

The purpose of this study is to see if valganciclovir is a safe treatment for CMV retinitis in patients who have been treated for this condition in the past. This study also examines the effectiveness of valganciclovir in preventing the recurrence of CMV retinitis.

To assess the safety and efficacy of three therapeutic regimens (foscarnet, ganciclovir, or the combination) for recurrent or persistent AIDS-related cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Although therapy with foscarnet or ganciclovir halts retinitis progression in 90 percent of patients treated, relapses are common and may accelerate due to development of drug resistance, deteriorating immune function, or other factors. Treatment strategies currently being investigated include switching patients from one drug to the other or combining the two drugs.

To examine the usefulness and safety of the antiviral drug foscarnet in treating AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that is causing sight-threatening inflammation of the retina in one or both eyes (CMV retinitis). Because of the seriousness of sight-threatening CMV retinitis in AIDS patients and a lack of other available treatments for those patients who cannot be treated with ganciclovir (DHPG) (because of its toxic effect on the body's blood-forming cells, because it did not control the disease, or because patient's blood cell or platelet counts are too low to begin with), it is worthwhile to try an immediate trial with foscarnet. AMENDED: ACTG 093 was originally designed as a randomized dose-ranging study of foscarnet maintenance therapy. Patients enrolled between March 17, 1989, and January 1, 1990, received either 60 mg/kg/day or 90/mg/kg day as maintenance therapy following the 2 week induction period. Based on the preliminary results of ACTG 015/915, which studied maintenance doses of foscarnet of 60 mg/kg/day, 90 mg/kg/day and 120 mg/kg/day, the 60-mg/kg/day and 90/mg/kg/day arms of this study have been closed. All patients entering the study beginning January 2, 1990 will receive foscarnet maintenance therapy on a 120/mg/kg/day algorithm following induction.

To explore the safety and usefulness of foscarnet, an antiviral agent, in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Untreated CMV retinitis is a rapidly progressive, blinding disease in AIDS patients. The manner in which foscarnet breaks down in the body and the effect of increasing periodic intravenous doses are also studied. Foscarnet is active in vitro (test tube) against herpes viruses, including CMV, by inhibiting the virus DNA polymerases, enzymes necessary for virus replication, without affecting cellular DNA polymerases. Opportunistic CMV disease in AIDS is usually seen as retinitis, colitis, esophagitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, encephalitis, or pneumonia. Ganciclovir has been used to treat AIDS patients with CMV disease but can cause severe neutropenia (very low neutrophil cell counts). Foscarnet does not suppress the production of neutrophils or other leukocytes (myelosuppression) and has shown in vitro activity against HIV.

To compare the safety and efficacy of sevirumab (MSL 109; Protovir), human anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) monoclonal antibody, plus active primary treatment versus placebo plus active primary treatment in AIDS patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed CMV retinitis. Ganciclovir and foscarnet are used for treatment of CMV retinitis, but cause hematologic toxicity and nephrotoxicity, respectively. Despite continued maintenance therapy with these drugs, relapse occurs in 85 percent of patients within 4 months. Studies suggest that MSL 109, a human monoclonal antibody, when given with either ganciclovir or foscarnet, may increase initial response and prolong time to progression in patients with CMV retinitis.