Novel ERG for Detection of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy

Last updated: July 22, 2024
Sponsor: King's College Hospital NHS Trust
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Retina

Treatment

Macular Autofluorescence (Standard of Care test)

Trolley-Mounted Multifocal Skin-Electrode Electroretinography (Device to be evaluated)

Hand-Held Full-Field Skin-Electrode Electroretinography (Device to be evaluated)

Clinical Study ID

NCT06035887
IRAS 317611
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The purpose of the study is to investigate novel electroretinography (ERG) devices in the detection of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy. Two devices (the RETEval full-field and flicker ERG and UTAS multifocal ERG) will be evaluated in this study, comparing device outputs to standard of care screening tests, in groups of participants characterised by presence or absence of hydroxychloroquine-related retinopathy.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥18 years

  2. HCQ groups: a. HCQ use >5 years for patients without any high-risk factors, or >1 year inpatients with one or more high-risk factors for HCQ retinopathy, namely: i. Dose >5mg/kg per day actual body weight (ABW) ii. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60mls/min/1.73m2 iii. Concomitant tamoxifen use

  3. Control group:

  4. No prior HCQ exposure

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Cataract grade ≥3 of any subtype

  2. Recent cataract surgery within 4 weeks of recruitment

  3. Significant media opacity or corneal disease including, but not limited to, cornealoedema, corneal scarring, keratoconus, previous corneal transplants, severekeratoconjunctivitis sicca (requiring the use of topical serum, immunosuppressive oranalogous therapy, or procedural treatment).

  4. Significant macular co-pathology including, but not limited to, maculardegeneration, macular scarring, cystic macular oedema (for any reason), staphyloma.

  5. Inherited retinal and/or macular dystrophies including colour vision deficiencies

  6. Active or previous posterior uveitis or pan-uveitis

  7. Aphakia

  8. High refractive error >6.00 dioptres

  9. Amblyopia

  10. Diabetes

  11. Retinal angiopathies including, but no limited to, retinal vein occlusion, retinalartery occlusion, ocular ischaemic syndrome, HIV retinopathy, Sickle cell disease,radiation retinopathy

  12. Visually significant surgical retinal disease including epiretinal membrane, macularhole, retinal detachment, retinal tear

  13. Previous retinal laser or intravitreal treatment

  14. Moderate or worse glaucoma

  15. Optic atrophy

  16. Photosensitive epilepsy

  17. Ungradable HCQ retinopathy screening images

  18. Periocular infection or rash (recruitment can be deferred until acute pathology hasresolved)

  19. Unable or unwilling to undertake study activities

  20. Any active use or history of the following medications:

Amiodarone Canthaxanthin Deferoxamine Digoxin Ethambutol Interferon-alpha Melatonin Nefazodone Sildenafil Vigabatrin Chloroquine Quinine

Study Design

Total Participants: 140
Treatment Group(s): 4
Primary Treatment: Macular Autofluorescence (Standard of Care test)
Phase:
Study Start date:
May 31, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
May 31, 2026

Study Description

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a widely used drug used to treat disorders of inflammation in the body with up to 320,000 people estimated to be on this drug in the UK alone. Retinopathy due to HCQ is a significant problem, necessitating yearly screening which can only realistically take place in hospital eye units where funding and capacity constraints limit the provision of services.

Electroretinography is a non-invasive method of testing for eye retinal problems, which works by flashing light (in certain patterns and brightness) into eyes and measuring the electrical response through fine wires placed on the eye surface or behind the eyelid, and is considered by many authors to be a gold-standard test to detect HCQ retinopathy. Their use has been limited due to the high expertise required to undertake and interpret tests, limited availability of testing, and high test burden, however newer electroretinography devices have been developed by a company called LKC Technologies, which are faster to perform, use leads placed on the skin (rather than the eye surface) which are more comfortable, easier to use by healthcare technicians, and can be done without the need for dilating eyedrops. The two devices being tested in this study are:

  • The RETEval = a handheld electroretinography testing device

  • The UTAS multifocal ERG = a trolley-mounted electroretinography testing device

These innovations may make testing far easier to develop in both hospital eye service, and potentially even general settings such as outpatient clinics, general practices, and optometrists. This study aims to evaluate the performance of devices to detect and classify participants in 4 main groups:

  • Normative control participants (n=35)

  • Patients taking HCQ but without retinopathy (n=35)

  • Patients taking HCQ with indeterminate features of retinopathy (also known as POSSIBLE retinopathy) (n=35)

  • Patients taking HCQ with definite retinopathy

Device outputs will be analysed and compared with masked graded screening results (incorporating spectral-domain macular optical coherence tomography and autofluorescence as standard, taken on the same visit) to generate device- and device-output-specific sensitivities and specificities. If a signal is found, the feasibility outcomes from this study will inform the study methodology and timelines for a larger trial if necessary.

Connect with a study center

  • King's College Hospital

    London, SE5 9RS
    United Kingdom

    Active - Recruiting

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