Abstract
Introduction
The Ozurdex® (Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) dexamethasone drug delivery system (DDS) was recently developed as a biodegradable intravitreal implant to provide sustained delivery of 700 μg of preservativefree dexamethasone to the retina and vitreous, and is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion, as well as for noninfectious posterior uveitis. This review summarizes the rationale behind the development of the dexamethasone DDS, evidence for its use in various clinical scenarios, and compares its efficacy to other available treatment options.
Methods
Published data regarding the dexamethasone DDS as well as unpublished data that has been presented at national meetings were reviewed.
Results
The dexamethasone DDS has evidence for efficacy in multiple clinical situations, including macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO), macular edema associated with uveitis or Irvine-Gass syndrome, diabetic macular edema in vitrectomized eyes, persistent macular edema, noninfectious vitritis, and as adjunctive therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Safety concerns include cataract formation and intraocular pressure elevation that is most often temporary and amenable to medical management.
Conclusions
The dexamethasone DDS is one of the most recent additions to the armamentarium against macular edema, and is intriguing for its potency, dose consistency, potential for extended duration of action, and favorable safety profile. Early evidence shows clinical utility for several conditions, the most well established being for macular edema associated with RVO. Future studies and, in particular, head-to-head comparisons with other treatment modalities will elucidate the precise role for the dexamethasone DDS in clinical practice.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Leopold IH. Nonsteroidal and steroidal antiinflammatory agents. In: Sears M, Tarkkanen A, eds. Surgical pharmacology of the eye. New York: Raven Press, 1985:83–133.
Nauck M, Karakiulakis G, Perruchoud A, et al. Corticosteroids inhibit the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Euro J Pharmacol. 1998;341:309–315.
Woods AC. The present status of ACTH and cortisone in clinical ophthalmology. Am J Ophthalmol. 1951;34:945–960.
Mc LJ, Gordon DM, Koteen H. Clinical experiences with ACTH and cortisone in ocular diseases. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1951;55:565–572.
Gordon DM, McLean JM. Effects of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy in ophthalmologic conditions. JAMA. 1950;142:1271–1276.
Leopold IH, Purnell JE, Cannon EJ, Steinmetz CG, Mc DP. Local and systemic cortisone in ocular disease. Am J Ophthalmol. 1951;34:361–371.
Scheie HG, Tyner GS, Buesseler JA, Alfano JE. Adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH and cortisone in ophthalmology; report of cases. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 1951;45:301–316.
Fitzgerald JR, Bellows JG, Donegan JM, et al. Early clinical results of ACTH and cortisone treatment of ocular diseases. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 1951;45:320–323.
Weijtens O, Feron EJ, Schoemaker RC, et al. High concentration of dexamethasone in aqueous and vitreous after subconjunctival injection. Am J Ophthalmol. 1999;128:192–197.
Weijtens O, Schoemaker RC, Cohen AF, et al. Dexamethasone concentration in vitreous and serum after oral administration. Am J Ophthalmol. 1998;125:673–679.
Weijtens O, Schoemaker RC, Lentjes EG, Romijn FP, Cohen AF, van Meurs JC. Dexamethasone concentration in the subretinal fluid after a subconjunctival injection, a peribulbar injection, or an oral dose. Ophthalmology. 2000;107:1932–1938.
Weijtens O, Schoemaker RC, Romijn FP, Cohen AF, Lentjes EG, van Meurs JC. Intraocular penetration and systemic absorption after topical application of dexamethasone disodium phosphate. Ophthalmology. 2002;109:1887–1891.
Tano Y, Chandler D, Machemer R. Treatment of intraocular proliferation with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Am J Ophthalmol. 1980;90:810–816.
Tano Y, Sugita G, Abrams G, Machemer R. Inhibition of intraocular proliferations with intravitreal corticosteroids. Am J Ophthalmol. 1980;89:131–136.
Conti SM, Kertes PJ. The use of intravitreal corticosteroids, evidence-based and otherwise. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2006;17:235–244.
Penfold PL, Wen L, Madigan MC, Gillies MC, King NJ, Provis JM. Triamcinolone acetonide modulates permeability and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression of the ECV304 cell line: implications for macular degeneration. Clin Exp Immunol. 2000;121:458–465.
Singer KL, Stevenson BR, Woo PL, Firestone GL. Relationship of serine/threonine phosphorylation/ dephosphorylation signaling to glucocorticoid regulation of tight junction permeability and ZO-1 distribution in nontransformed mammary epithelial cells. J Biol Chem. 1994;269:16108–16115.
Sherif Z, Pleyer U. Corticosteroids in ophthalmology: past-present-future. Ophthalmologica. 2002;216:305–315.
Antonetti DA, Barber AJ, Khin S, Lieth E, Tarbell JM, Gardner TW. Penn State Retina Research Group. Vascular permeability in experimental diabetes is associated with reduced endothelial occludin content: vascular endothelial growth factor decreases occludin in retinal endothelial cells. Diabetes. 1998;47:1953–1959.
Antonetti DA, Wolpert EB, DeMaio L, Harhaj NS, Scaduto RC Jr. Hydrocortisone decreases retinal endothelial cell water and solute flux coincident with increased content and decreased phosphorylation of occludin. J Neurochem. 2002;80:667–677.
Edelman JL, Lutz D, Castro MR. Corticosteroids inhibit VEGF-induced vascular leakage in a rabbit model of blood-retinal and blood aqueous barrier breakdown. Exp Eye Res. 2005;80:249–258.
Grosser T, Smyth EM, FitzGerald GA. Antiinflammatory, Antipyritic, and Analgesic Agents; Pharmacology of Gout. In: Brunton L, Chabner B, Knollmann B. eds. Goodman and Gilman’s Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional: 2010:959–1004.
Nabih M, Peyman GA, Tawakol ME, Naguib K. Toxicity of high-dose intravitreal dexamethasone. Int Ophthalmol. 1991;15:233–235.
Kwak HW, D’Amico DJ. Evaluation of the retinal toxicity and pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone after intravitreal injection. Arch Ophthalmol. 1992;110:259–266.
Maxwell DP, Jr., Brent BD, Diamond JG, Wu L. Effect of intravitreal dexamethasone on ocular histopathology in a rabbit model of endophthalmitis. Ophthalmology 1991;98:1370–1375.
Narayanan R, Mungcal JK, Kenney MC, Seigel GM, Kuppermann BD. Toxicity of triamcinolone acetonide on retinal neurosensory and pigment epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47:722–728.
Yeung CK, Chan KP, Chan CK, Pang CP, Lam DS. Cytotoxicity of triamcinolone on cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells: comparison with dexamethasone and hydrocortisone. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2004;48:236–242.
Yu SY, Damico FM, Viola F, D’Amico DJ, Young LH. Retinal toxicity of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide: a morphological study. Retina. 2006;26:531–536.
Graham RO, Peyman GA. Intravitreal injection of dexamethasone. Treatment of experimentally induced endophthalmitis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1974;92:149–154.
Chang-Lin JE, Attar M, Acheampong AA, et al. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the sustained-release dexamethasone intravitreal implant. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52:80–86.
Haller JA, Kuppermann BD, Blumenkranz MS, et al. Randomized controlled trial of an intravitreous dexamethasone drug delivery system in patients with diabetic macular edema. Arch Ophthalmol. 2010;128:289–296.
Haller JA, Bandello F, Belfort R, Jr., et al. Randomized, sham-controlled trial of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in patients with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion. Ophthalmology. 2010;117:1134–1146, e1133.
Ip MS, Scott IU, VanVeldhuisen PC, et al. A randomized trial comparing the efficacy and safety of intravitreal triamcinolone with observation to treat vision loss associated with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion: the Standard Care vs Corticosteroid for Retinal Vein Occlusion (SCORE) study report 5. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127:1101–1114.
Scott IU, Ip MS, VanVeldhuisen PC, et al. A randomized trial comparing the efficacy and safety of intravitreal triamcinolone with standard care to treat vision loss associated with macular Edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion: the Standard Care vs Corticosteroid for Retinal Vein Occlusion (SCORE) study report 6. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127:1115–1128.
Campochiaro PA, Heier JS, Feiner L, et al. Ranibizumab for macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion: six-month primary end point results of a phase III study. Ophthalmology. 2010;117:1102–1112,e1101.
Brown DM, Campochiaro PA, Singh RP, et al. Ranibizumab for macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion: six-month primary end point results of a phase III study. Ophthalmology. 2010;117:1124–1133,e1121.
Bressler NM, Schachat AP. Management of macular edema from retinal vein occlusions: you can never have too many choices. Ophthalmology. 2010;117:1061–1063.
Williams GA, Haller JA, Kuppermann BD, et al. Dexamethasone posterior-segment drug delivery system in the treatment of macular edema resulting from uveitis or Irvine-Gass syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;147:1048–54,1054.e 1–2.
Boyer, D for the OZURDEX™ CHAMPLAIN Study Group. Open-label phase IIIb study of dexamethasone intravitreal implant for treatment of diabetic macular edema in vitrectomized patients. Presented at the 33rd Annual Macular Society Meeting; February 24, 2010; Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Yanyali A, Nohutcu AF, Horozoglu F, Celik E. Modified grid laser photocoagulation versus pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal in diabetic macular edema. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;139:795–801.
Schindler RH, Chandler D, Thresher R, Machemer R. The clearance of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. Am J Ophthalmol. 1982;93:415–417.
Chin HS, Park TS, Moon YS, Oh JH. Difference in clearance of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide between vitrectomized and nonvitrectomized eyes. Retina. 2005;25:556–560.
Beer PM, Bakri SJ, Singh RJ, Liu W, Peters GB 3rd, Miller M. Intraocular concentration and pharmacokinetics of triamcinolone acetonide after a single intravitreal injection. Ophthalmology. 2003;110:681–686.
Yanyali A, Aytug B, Horozoglu F, Nohutcu AF. Bevacizumab (Avastin) for diabetic macular edema in previously vitrectomized eyes. Am J Ophthalmol. 2007;144:124–126.
Lowder C, Belfort R Jr., Lightman S, et al. Dexamethasone intravitreal implant for noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis. Arch Ophthalmol. 2011; Jan 10 [Epub ahead of print].
Nussenblatt RB, Palestine AG, Chan CC, Roberge F. Standardization of vitreal inflammatory activity in intermediate and posterior uveitis. Ophthalmology. 1985;92:467–471.
Mangione CM, Berry S, Spritzer K, et al. Identifying the content area for the 51-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire: results from focus groups with visually impaired persons. Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:227–233.
Kupperman, B. Safety and efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant as adjunctive therapy to Lucentis neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Presented at the 33rd Annual Macular Society Meeting; February 24, 2010; Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Patelli F, Fasolino G, Radice P, et al. Time course of changes in retinal thickness and visual acuity after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for diffuse diabetic macular edema with and without previous macular laser treatment. Retina. 2005;25:840–845.
Cardillo JA, Melo LA Jr., Costa RA, et al. Comparison of intravitreal versus posterior sub-Tenon’s capsule injection of triamcinolone acetonide for diffuse diabetic macular edema. Ophthalmology. 2005;112:1557–1563.
Bonini-Filho MA, Jorge R, Barbosa JC, Calucci D, Cardillo JA, Costa RA. Intravitreal injection versus sub-Tenon’s infusion of triamcinolone acetonide for refractory diabetic macular edema: a randomized clinical trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46:3845–3849.
Larsson J, Zhu M, Sutter F, Gillies MC. Relation between reduction of foveal thickness and visual acuity in diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal triamcinolone. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;139:802–806.
Ozdemir H, Karacorlu M, Karacorlu SA. Regression of serous macular detachment after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with diabetic macular edema. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;140:251–255.
Ozkiris A, Erkilic K. Complications of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Can J Ophthalmol. 2005;40:63–68.
Moshfeghi AA, Scott IU, Flynn HW Jr., Puliafito CA. Pseudohypopyon after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection for cystoid macular edema. Am J Ophthalmol. 2004;138:489–492.
Roth DB, Chieh J, Spirn MJ, Green SN, Yarian DL, Chaudhry NA. Noninfectious endophthalmitis associated with intravitreal triamcinolone injection. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121:1279–1282.
Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. A randomized trial comparing intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide and focal/grid photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:1447–1459.e10.
Ober MD, Barile GR, Tari SR, Tosi GM, Schiff WM, Chang S. Measurement of the actual dose of triamcinolone acetonide delivered by common techniques of intravitreal injection. Am J Ophthalmol. 2006;142:597–600.
Shaikh S, Ho S, Engelmann LA, Klemann SW. Cell viability effects of triamcinolone acetonide and preservative vehicle formulations. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006;90:233–236.
Chang YS, Wu CL, Tseng SH, Kuo PY, Tseng SY. Cytotoxicity of triamcinolone acetonide on human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007;48:2792–2798.
Chang YS, Wu CL, Tseng SH, Kuo PY, Tseng SY. In vitro benzyl alcohol cytotoxicity: implications for intravitreal use of triamcinolone acetonide. Exp Eye Res. 2008;86:942–950.
Kamppeter B, Cej A, Jonas J. Intraocular concentration of triamcinolone acetonide after intravitreal injection in the rabbit eye. Ophthalmology 2008;115:1372–1375.
Bakri SJ, Snyder MR, Reid JM, Pulido JS, Ezzat MK, Singh RJ. Pharmacokinetics of intravitreal ranibizumab. Ophthalmology. 2007;114:2179–2182.
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Summary Review for application NDA. Application number 22–315. Available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2009/022315s000_SumR.pdf Accessed March 22, 2011.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12325-013-0035-2.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
London, N.J.S., Chiang, A. & Haller, J.A. The dexamethasone drug delivery system: Indications and evidence. Adv Therapy 28, 351–366 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-011-0019-z
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-011-0019-z