title: Efficacy of low-release-rate fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implants to treat experimental uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of 0.5-mg and 0.1-mg sustained-release fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implants to inhibit ocular inflammation in a rabbit model of severe uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in vitro pharmacokinetic profile of both the 0.5-mg and 0.1-mg sustained-release fluocinolone intravitreal implants was determined during a 10-day period. A sustained-release fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant with a release rate of either 0.5 microg/d (n = 16) or 0.1 microg/d (n = 16) was implanted into the vitreous cavity of the right eye in albino rabbits after a subcutaneous injection of tuberculin antigen. Control animals (n = 14) received empty devices. Uveitis was induced with an intravitreal tuberculin antigen injection. A masked observer graded anterior chamber flare, anterior chamber cells, vitreous opacity, and inflammation on histologic sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro, the drug was released from both devices in a linear manner. In vivo, treated eyes were significantly less inflamed than untreated eyes (P< or =.02). Inflammation was suppressed to a greater degree with the 0.5-microg/d implant compared with the 0.1-microg/d implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sustained-release fluocinolone intravitreal implants suppress ocular inflammation in a rabbit model of severe uveitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy demonstrated with the 0.1-microg/d implant provides the rationale for future human studies with lower-release-rate implants than are currently used in noninfectious uveitis clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Prithvi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mruthyunjaya
authors.forename: Dara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khalatbari
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stinnett
authors.forename: Ryotaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tano
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Marty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazzaro
authors.forename: Glenn J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jaffe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004343:Drug Implants; D004596:Electroretinography; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide