Students Research in Progress
Sunday, November 12, 2023
12:45 PM–02:15 PM
Abstract
Introduction:
Fluocinolone acetonide 0.19 mg (ILUVIEN) is an intravitreal corticosteroid implant that treats diabetic macular edema (DME). DME is a progressive disease which, left untreated, can lead to vision loss over time. Pharmacotherapy entails anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injections, and intraocular corticosteroids are used after failure of anti-VEGF injections.
Research Question or Hypothesis:
Characterize the patient population receiving ILUVIEN and describe the need for other DME therapies before and after receiving ILUVIEN.
Study Design:
Retrospective chart review that included patients receiving at least one ILUVIEN implant from July 2019 to July 2023 within the Cleveland Clinic Health System.
Methods:
Baseline characteristics collected included sex and ethnicity. Primary objectives were to characterize the patient population and the administration site and frequency of ILUVIEN implants. Secondary objectives included identifying the use of anti-VEGF intravitreal injections and intraocular pressure (IOP) reducing eye drops before and after ILUVIEN insertion and the utilization of alternative intraocular corticosteroids after ILUVIEN. Data collection, analysis, and calculations were performed using Excel.
Results:
Fifty-one patients received ILUVIEN. The majority of patients were male and White non-Hispanic. Twenty-six patients received ILUVIEN in both eyes and the others received ILUVIEN in the left or right eye. Three patients received two or more additional implants and ten patients received one additional implant. Twenty-one patients were prescribed IOP-reducing eye drops before ILUVIEN versus 23 patients needing IOP-reducing drops after ILUVIEN. Seven patients used an alternative ophthalmologic corticosteroid after ILUVIEN. Forty-nine patients received anti-VEGF therapy before ILUVIEN and 23 received anti-VEGF therapy after ILUVIEN.
Conclusion:
ILUVIEN treats DME in patients who have previously failed anti-VEGF therapy. The need for IOP-reducing drops after ILUVIEN increased, but anti-VEGF therapy after ILUVIEN was observed less. Next steps include further characterizing anti-VEGF and IOP-reducing drop use and describing the rationale for patients receiving anti-VEGF agents after ILUVIEN.
Presenting Author
Rachael Pirrami BSPSCleveland Clinic Health System
Authors
Sarah Mersek PharmD, BCPS