Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial Comparing the Impact of Sham or Intranasal Tear Neurostimulation on Conjunctival Goblet Cell Degranulation.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the Allergan Intranasal Tear Neurostimulator (ITN) on conjunctival goblet cell (GC) degranulation. DESIGN: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled crossover trial. METHODS: A total of 15 subjects (5 normal and 10 dry eye) were enrolled in a 3-visit study consisting of 1 screening and 2 separate randomized-masked ITN treatments (sham extranasal or intranasal). Tear meniscus height (TMH) was measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography before and after applications. Impression cytology (IC) was taken from the bulbar conjunctiva of the right eye for periodic acid-Schiff staining and from the left eye for MUC5AC mucin immunostaining at baseline and after each treatment. The ratio of degranulated to nondegranulated GCs was measured as a marker of secretion. RESULTS: In all participants, both inferior bulbar (IB) and temporal bulbar (TB) cytology specimens stained for MUC5AC revealed a significantly higher ratio of degranulated to nondegranulated GCs after the ITN (IB: 2.28 ± 1.27 and TB: 1.81 ± 1.01) compared to baseline (IB: 0.56 ± 0.55, P = .015) (TB: 0.56 ± 0.32, P = .003) and extranasal sham application (IB: 0.37 ± 0.29, P = .001) (TB: 0.39 ± 0.33, P = .001). When the same analysis was repeated in the dry eye or control groups, the ratio was significantly higher after ITN than the baseline ratio and ratio after extranasal application in both groups (P < .05). Moreover, although control subjects had a higher ratio of degranulated to nondegranulated GCs at baseline (0.75 ± 0.52) compared with the dry eye group (0.41 ± 0.27), the ratio became slightly higher in dry eye (2.04 ± 1.12 vs 1.99 ± 1.21 in control) after the ITN application. There was no significant difference between the IB or TB conjunctiva locations in terms of the effectiveness of the ITN application on conjunctival goblet cell secretory response. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results document that the Allergan ITN can stimulate degranulation of goblet cells in the conjunctiva, which is a promising new approach for the management of dry eye.

Ranibizumab in preproliferative (ischemic) central retinal vein occlusion: the rubeosis anti-VEGF (RAVE) trial.

PURPOSE: To analyze the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab in eyes with preproliferative (ischemic) central retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: In this prospective, phase I/II, open-label clinical trial, eyes at high risk of neovascular complications were identified; all eyes met ≥ 3 of 4 high-risk criteria: 1) the best-corrected visual acuity being ≤ 20/200, 2) loss of the 1-2e isopter on Goldmann visual field, 3) relative afferent pupillary defect being ≥ 0.9 log units, and 4) electroretinogram B-wave reduction to ≤ 60% of the corresponding A-wave. Monthly intravitreal ranibizumab treatment for 9 months, monthly monitoring for 3 months, and then monthly examination with pro re nata retreatment on evidence of disease activity for 24 months were performed. Therefore, the total study duration was 36 months. RESULTS: The main outcome measures were mean change in the best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness by optical coherence tomography, proportion of patients with neovascular complications, and the incidence and severity of ocular and nonocular adverse events. Twenty patients were enrolled in the Rubeosis Anti-VEgf trial, and the mean number of intravitreal treatments administered through Months 24 and 36 were 14.1 and 17.2, respectively. The mean best-corrected visual acuity letters gained were +21.1 and +21.4 at 9 and 36 months, respectively. The mean central macular thickness improved -294 µm from baseline after 9 monthly treatments. Subsequently, after 3 months of observation, the mean central macular thickness increased +203 µm. On initiation of pro re nata ranibizumab retreatment, the mean central macular thickness then improved -191 µm at Month 36 compared with Month 12. Nine patients developed neovascular complications, being diagnosed after a mean of 24-month follow-up (range, 3-44 months), with 2 patients developing neovascularization after completion of the 36-month trial endpoint (at Months 42 and 44 after study enrollment). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab therapy can improve retinal anatomy and vision in eyes with severe central retinal vein occlusion. Despite significant clinical benefit with antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy, the risk of neovascular complications was not ameliorated by vascular endothelial growth factor blockade, but was merely delayed.