This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Cyclosporine implants have scant effect on corneal neovascularization after PK
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
High-dose subconjunctival cyclosporine implants had an insignificant effect on corneal neovascularization after high-risk penetrating keratoplasty, according to study findings.
The prospective, randomized multi-center, phase 2/3 clinical trial included 97 patients; 36 patients received a low-dose 0.5-inch subconjunctival cyclosporine A implant; 40 patients received a high-dose, 0.75-inch implant and 21 patients received a 0.75-inch placebo implant after undergoing PK.
Corneal images were taken at baseline and 1 day, 1 week, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after implantation. The primary outcome measure was the incidence and degree of corneal neovascularization after PK.
Study results showed no significant between-group differences in the incidence or degree of corneal neovascularization after PK.
At 52 weeks, mean corneal neovascularization area was 2.32% in the low-dose implant group, 2.74% in the high-dose implant group and 2.79% in the placebo group.
“In line with previous non-controlled studies, this study demonstrated that penetrating keratoplasty itself is associated with a postoperative — probably surgery-related — increase in corneal neovascularization, which then is followed by a decrease of neovascularization — probably because of the anti-angiogenic effect of the healthy donor cornea.”
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts