Archive for the ‘Drugs & Treatments’ Category
Time-released steroids offer a new way to treat AMD
01.12.2012
A collaboration between researchers at Wayne State University, the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine resulted in the discovery that dry age-related macular degeneration could be treated by attaching steroids to nanoparticles called dendrimers. These steroids are delivered directly to the retina where they are delivered in a sustained-release manner and only target the cells that cause neuroinflammation and leave the rest of the eye alone.
The study which was published in the journal Biomaterials was conducted using rats and the results showed that one intravitreal injection of the nanoparticles offered neuroprotection for one month. Not only did the treatment reduce neuroinflammation in the rats but it also protected their vision by keeping the photoreceptors in the retina from being injured.
The treatment would benefit both dry age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Researchers acknowledge that the protection provided by the steroid is only temporary but that overall treatment provides sustained relief from neuroinflammation.*
FDA approves Eylea as New Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment
12.12.2011The Food and Drug Administration announced last Friday that Regneron’s new drug Eylea has received approval to treat the wet form of macular degeneration. Eylea will offer patients an alternative to Lucentis which is the current standard treatment.
While Eylea is only $100 less per injection at $1850 compared to Lucentis at $1950, it will also have the advantage of being administered less frequently than Lucentis. Eylea’s recommended dosing is once every 4 weeks for the first three injections and then once every 8 weeks thereafter, whereas Lucentis is usually administered once every 4 weeks.
Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in the elderly. The wet form of macular degeneration is caused when abnormal “neovascular” blood vessels grow rapidly and leak fluid into the eye. Eylea works by blocking the action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is a protein that causes the growth of these new blood vessels.*
Controversial Study Result: An aspirin a day linked to wet macular degeneration
11.20.2011
A recent European study reveals that seniors who are on a daily aspirin regimen are twice as likely to develop wet macular degeneration compared to people who never take aspirin. Researchers emphasize that the data doesn’t show that vision loss is caused by aspirin but that it does cause concern that aspirin might aggravate the eye disorder.
Researchers collected personal information about health and lifestyle from almost 4,700 people over the age of 65. What they found is that almost four of every 100 daily aspirin users had wet macular degeneration. Only two out of every 100 people who took aspirin less frequently had wet macular degeneration.
Larger studies that follow people over a period of time and document their aspirin use and vision will help to determine the role that aspirin plays in macular degeneration. Meanwhile, researchers stress that it’s a good idea to caution people that aspirin might exacerbate macular degeneration, but that the benefits of taking the aspirin outweigh any risks to their vision.
In addition, the association may not be causal. People with high cholesterol and heart disease, which is associated with macular degeneration, are the very same people who have been instructed by their doctors to take aspirin.*
Retina group publishes Avastin safety information to avoid blinding eye infections
11.01.2011In light of recent cases of blinding endophthalmitis from injections of Avastin, the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) has published online safety information about compounding pharmacies. This information will allow retina specialists to choose high-quality providers of Avastin.
The cases of endophthalmitis which have been in the news recently have been a result of bacterial contamination which occurred when the drug was divided into many smaller doses by the compounding pharmacy. It is this extra handling and the transference of these small doses into syringes that increases the risk of bacterial contamination.
The ASRS conducted a survey among its members to determine if they had any cases of endophthalmitis and if so, what the cause was and if they were associated with a particular compounding pharmacy. The ASRS then compiled the detailed results of the survey to make available to other members to assist them in selecting pharmacies who have the highest standards of safety.*
Elise Ervin
Staff Writer
Medical Marijuana: Legalize AND Control It
10.26.2011I recently read an article in the LA Times about the medicinal use of marijuana, and the CA Medical Association’s adoption of a “legalize it” stance.
Several US States have already legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes
Wouldn’t it be great if the medicinal value could be separated from the drug’s high?
During my glaucoma fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center, we actually performed a study in which eyedrops containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC – the active ingredient in marijuana – were used on patients with glaucoma (elevated eye pressure). Unfortunately, the penetration of THC into the eye was poor, and THC eyedrops were of no medical value.
Yet, plant-sourced medication is the foundation of many therapeutic medications. Digitalis, for example, is a common heart medication.
Although widespread abuses exist, no one questions the value of opiates in the treatment of severe pain. Likewise, there are real uses for marijuana, including treatment of intractable nausea, such as experienced by people undergoing chemotherapy.
The answer is to both legalize it and control it – just as is done with opiates. Such a solution doesn’t guarantee that abuses won’t occur, but it provides a compromise solution for those vying for and fighting against its legalization.*
–
Paul Krawitz, M.D., President
VisiVite.Com
