ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04891991FIXERUpdated Jan 19, 2024

Intravitreal Infliximab for Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

A Phase 2 interventional study of Intravitreal infliximab and Pars plana vitrectomy in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment, Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy and Retinal Detachment, sponsored by Cairo University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-01-19.

Sponsored by Cairo University · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Nov 2023, 3 years ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
66
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause for failure of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair and is characterized by the growth and contraction of cellular membranes within the vitreous cavity on both sides of the retinal surface as well as intraretinal fibrosis.

Multiple therapeutic agents have been tried as an adjunctive to retinal detachment surgery for PVR with no consistent efficacy. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which is a prominent inflammatory cytokine, is secreted in response to trauma, infection, and inflammation. It is a key mediator of ocular inflammation and its interactions with the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell contribute to the initiation of PVR. This may occur through the action of TNF-α on the RPE cells inducing changes in cellular morphologies that lead to the formation of fibroblastic cells.

Infliximab (Remicade; Janssen Biotech, Horsham, PA, USA) is a mouse-human chimeric antibody that neutralizes the biological activity of TNF-α by high-affinity binding to the soluble and transmembrane forms of TNF-α, therefore preventing the effective binding of TNF-α with its receptors. Infliximab is used in the treatment of various ocular and systemic inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, intravitreal infliximab has been used for the treatment of various ocular diseases and has proven to be generally safe for the short term in inflammatory ocular conditions. A recent study showed that intravitreal infliximab can inhibit the development of PVR and reduce levels of cytokines in an experimental dispase-induced PVR model.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal infliximab injection as an adjunct to pars plana vitrectomy in the treatment of PVR associated with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Read the detailed description

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause for failure of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair and is characterized by the growth and contraction of cellular membranes within the vitreous cavity on both sides of the retinal surface as well as intraretinal fibrosis.

The incidence of PVR in all cases of retinal detachment is estimated to be 5- 10%. The incidence of PVR has largely remained unchanged in prospective studies despite the evolution of vitreoretinal techniques over the past 25 years, including valved trocars and smaller gauge instrumentation.

Numerous risk factors for the development of PVR have been identified. Almost all risk factors for PVR are associated with intravitreal dispersion of retinal pigment epithelial cells or breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier. Following a retinal break, the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are exposed to the vitreous cavity to react to growth factors and cytokines in the vitreous, resulting in a forward feedback to secret more growth factors and cytokines to further stimulate cellular responses.

Multiple therapeutic agents have been tried as an adjunctive to retinal detachment surgery for PVR with no consistent efficacy. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which is a prominent inflammatory cytokine, is secreted in response to trauma, infection, and inflammation. It is a key mediator of ocular inflammation and its interactions with RPE cells contribute to the initiation of PVR. This is because TNF-α was found to act on the RPE cells consequently inducing changes in cellular morphologies leading to the formation of fibroblastic cells. Additionally, if TNF-α is combined with other growth factors, a strong synergistic effect can be induced to form epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated fibrotic focus.

Infliximab (Remicade; Janssen Biotech, Horsham, PA, USA) is a mouse-human chimeric antibody that neutralizes the biological activity of TNF-α by high-affinity binding to the soluble and transmembrane forms of TNF-α, therefore preventing the effective binding of TNF-α with its receptors. Infliximab is used in the treatment of various ocular and systemic inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, intravitreal infliximab has been used for the treatment of various ocular diseases and has proven to be generally safe for the short term in inflammatory ocular conditions. A recent study showed that intravitreal infliximab can inhibit the development of PVR and reduce levels of cytokines in an experimental dispase-induced PVR model.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal infliximab injection as an adjunct to pars plana vitrectomy in the treatment of PVR associated with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

02

Conditions studied

  • Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
  • Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
  • Retinal Detachment
03

In context

Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative

43 studies on the registry are indexed under Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative; 11 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 66 is close to the median of 64 across 30 interventional studies indexed under Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative.

Browse Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative studies →

Lead sponsor

Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,941 studies on the registry; 1,458 are open to participants now.

Of its 37 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age: more than or equal to 18 years
  • Primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy more than or equal to grade C

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a history of open globe injury
  • Recurrent retinal detachment or primary failed retinal detachment surgery
  • History of vitreoretinal procedure
  • Retinal vascular diseases (Diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion,...etc)
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding females
  • Inability to attend regular follow-up visits
  • History of pulmonary or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Care provider)
Enrollment
66 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Infliximab group

    This group will receive 1 mg/0.05 mL of intravitreal infliximab at the end of standard pars plana vitrectomy.

    Drug: Intravitreal infliximab · Procedure: Pars plana vitrectomy

  • Sham comparator
    Standard of care group

    This group will undergo standard pars plana vitrectomy.

    Procedure: Pars plana vitrectomy

Interventions

  • 1 mg/0.05 mL of infliximab will be injected intravitreally at the end of pars plana vitrectomy.

    Also known as: Remicade

  • ProcedurePars plana vitrectomy

    Standard pars plana vitrectomy

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Anatomical success

    Anatomical Success will be defined as stable complete retinal reattachment following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil removal.

    Time frame: 9 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual acuity

    Best corrected visual acuity will be measured at follow up visits using standard Snellen charts.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, and 9 months

  2. Macular structure

    Optical coherence tomography will be done at each follow up visit to assess the structure of the macula.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, and 9 months

  3. Macular vascularity

    Optical coherence tomography angiography will be done at each follow up visit to assess macular vascular density.

    Time frame: 7 months

  4. Macular function

    Macular function will be assessed during follow up visits using multifocal electroretinography

    Time frame: 7 months

  5. Single operation success rate

    The rate of successful retinal reattachment following a single operation will be calculated.

    Time frame: 9 months

  6. Recurrence rate

    Cumulative rate of recurrence of retinal detachment and reoperation following the primary surgery will be calculated during the study period.

    Time frame: 9 months

  7. Epiretinal proliferative

    The formation of significant epiretinal proliferation will be assessed clinically at each follow up visit.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, and 9 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Cairo University
    Cairo, 11956, Egypt
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Nagasaki H, Shinagawa K, Mochizuki M. Risk factors for proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Prog Retin Eye Res. 1998 Jan;17(1):77-98. doi: 10.1016/s1350-9462(97)00007-4. PubMed 9537796 ↗
  • Pastor JC. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: an overview. Surv Ophthalmol. 1998 Jul-Aug;43(1):3-18. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6257(98)00023-x. PubMed 9716190 ↗
  • Pastor JC, de la Rua ER, Martin F. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: risk factors and pathobiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2002 Jan;21(1):127-44. doi: 10.1016/s1350-9462(01)00023-4. PubMed 11906814 ↗
  • Pennock S, Haddock LJ, Mukai S, Kazlauskas A. Vascular endothelial growth factor acts primarily via platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha to promote proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Am J Pathol. 2014 Nov;184(11):3052-68. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.07.026. Epub 2014 Sep 26. PubMed 25261788 ↗
  • Charteris DG, Sethi CS, Lewis GP, Fisher SK. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy-developments in adjunctive treatment and retinal pathology. Eye (Lond). 2002 Jul;16(4):369-74. doi: 10.1038/sj.eye.6700194. PubMed 12101443 ↗
  • Leiderman YI, Miller JW. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: pathobiology and therapeutic targets. Semin Ophthalmol. 2009 Mar-Apr;24(2):62-9. doi: 10.1080/08820530902800082. PubMed 19373688 ↗
  • Heimann H, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Bornfeld N, Weiss C, Hilgers RD, Foerster MH; Scleral Buckling versus Primary Vitrectomy in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Study Group. Scleral buckling versus primary vitrectomy in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a prospective randomized multicenter clinical study. Ophthalmology. 2007 Dec;114(12):2142-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2007.09.013. PubMed 18054633 ↗
  • Savur F, Aydemir O, Ilhan N. The effect of infliximab and octreotide on cytokine levels experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2020 Mar;39(1):61-66. doi: 10.1080/15569527.2019.1701000. Epub 2019 Dec 17. PubMed 31809602 ↗
  • Markomichelakis N, Delicha E, Masselos S, Sfikakis PP. Intravitreal infliximab for sight-threatening relapsing uveitis in Behcet disease: a pilot study in 15 patients. Am J Ophthalmol. 2012 Sep;154(3):534-541.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2012.03.035. Epub 2012 Jul 11. PubMed 22789563 ↗
  • Pascual-Camps I, Hernandez-Martinez P, Monje-Fernandez L, Dolz-Marco R, Gallego-Pinazo R, Wu L, Arevalo JF, Diaz-Llopis M. Update on intravitreal anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapies for ocular disorders. J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect. 2014 Oct 15;4:26. doi: 10.1186/s12348-014-0026-8. eCollection 2014. PubMed 25825604 ↗
  • Pastor JC, Rojas J, Pastor-Idoate S, Di Lauro S, Gonzalez-Buendia L, Delgado-Tirado S. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: A new concept of disease pathogenesis and practical consequences. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016 Mar;51:125-55. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2015.07.005. Epub 2015 Jul 21. PubMed 26209346 ↗
  • Hamza MM, Macky TA, Sidky MK, Ragab G, Soliman MM. INTRAVITREAL INFLIXIMAB IN REFRACTORY UVEITIS IN BEHCET'S DISEASE: A Safety and Efficacy Clinical Study. Retina. 2016 Dec;36(12):2399-2408. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000001109. PubMed 27870802 ↗
  • Korthagen NM, van Bilsen K, Swagemakers SM, van de Peppel J, Bastiaans J, van der Spek PJ, van Hagen PM, Dik WA. Retinal pigment epithelial cells display specific transcriptional responses upon TNF-alpha stimulation. Br J Ophthalmol. 2015 May;99(5):700-4. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-306309. Epub 2015 Feb 13. PubMed 25680620 ↗
  • Pennock S, Haddock LJ, Eliott D, Mukai S, Kazlauskas A. Is neutralizing vitreal growth factors a viable strategy to prevent proliferative vitreoretinopathy? Prog Retin Eye Res. 2014 May;40:16-34. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2013.12.006. Epub 2014 Jan 9. PubMed 24412519 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 19, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04891991
Lead sponsor
Cairo University
Responsible party
Ayman Gehad Elnahry (Lecturer of Ophthalmology, Cairo University) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 19, 2021
Start date
Nov 26, 2021
Primary completion
Nov 10, 2023
Completion
Nov 10, 2023
Last update
Jan 19, 2024

Study contacts

Ayman G Elnahry, MD, PhD
principal investigator · Cairo University
Hany S Hamza, MD, PhD
study chair · Cairo University
Ahmed M Younes, MD, MSc
principal investigator · Cairo University
Ahmed A Abdel-Kader, MD, PhD
study director · Cairo University
Ahmed M Abdelbaki, MD, PhD
study director · Cairo University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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