Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of diabetic macular edema

Abstract

Diabetic macular edema (DME) resembles a chronic, low-grade inflammatory reaction, and is characterized by blood–retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown and retinal capillary leakage. Corticosteroids are of therapeutic benefit because of their anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and BRB-stabilizing properties. Delivery modes include periocular and intravitreal (via pars plana) injection. To offset the short intravitreal half-life of corticosteroid solutions (~3 hours) and the need for frequent intravitreal injections, sustained-release intravitreal corticosteroid implants have been developed. Dexamethasone intravitreal implant provides retinal drug delivery for ≤6 months and recently has been approved for use in the treatment of DME. Pooled findings (n=1,048) from two large-scale, randomized Phase III trials indicated that dexamethasone intravitreal implant (0.35 mg and 0.7 mg) administered at ≥6-month intervals produced sustained improvements in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular edema. Significantly more patients showed a ≥15-letter gain in BCVA at 3 years with dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.35 mg and 0.7 mg than with sham injection (18.4% and 22.2% vs 12.0%). Anatomical assessments showed rapid and sustained reductions in macular edema and slowing of retinopathy progression. Phase II study findings suggest that dexamethasone intravitreal implant is effective in focal, cystoid, and diffuse DME, in vitrectomized eyes, and in combination with laser therapy. Ocular complications of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in Phase III trials included cataract-related events (66.0% in phakic patients), intraocular pressure elevation ≥25 mmHg (29.7%), conjunctival hemorrhage (23.5%), vitreous hemorrhage (10.0%), macular fibrosis (8.3%), conjunctival hyperemia (7.2%), eye pain (6.1%), vitreous detachment (5.8%), and dry eye (5.8%); injection-related complications (eg, retinal tear/detachment, vitreous loss, endophthalmitis) were infrequent (<2%). Dexamethasone intravitreal implant offers a viable treatment option for DME, especially in cases that are persistent or treatment (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor/laser) refractory.

Introduction

Diabetic retinopathy is a frequent microvascular complication of diabetes types 1 and 2 and represents the leading cause of blindness among adults of working age in the developed world.¹ Diabetes-related central vision loss can arise either from microvascular occlusion (macular ischemia) or from microvascular leakage due to breakdown of the inner blood–retinal barrier (BRB), leading to thickening or swelling of the macula (macular edema).^2,3 Diabetic macular edema (DME) affects an estimated 21 million individuals worldwide.⁴

Once diabetic retinopathy progresses to macular edema, treatment is indicated to slow the rate of vision loss and improve the long-term prognosis. For the past three decades, laser photocoagulation has been the mainstay of treatment for patients with DME; however, although effective in preserving vision, this form of therapy is of limited effect in restoring lost vision.⁵

In recent years, several alternative treatment options have emerged that offer the promise of long-term improvement in visual acuity, including intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents and corticosteroids.⁵ Intravitreal anti-VEGF agents, either alone or as an adjunct to laser photocoagulation, have emerged as the preferred treatment for DME (particularly DME with foveal involvement) on account of their established efficacy, low incidence of complications, and relative ease of administration. Injectable intravitreal corticosteroids are effective agents for persistent or treatment-refractory DME, but their high rates of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and cataract consign their role to second-line therapy for most patients. In order to reduce the frequent dosing requirements of injectable intravitreal corticosteroid solutions and the associated risk of injection-related complications, sustained-release corticosteroid intravitreal implants have been developed.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg (Ozurdex^®, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) is a biodegradable drug delivery system that has been approved for use in the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, noninfectious posterior uveitis, and more recently DME. This review evaluates the current evidence of the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of DME.

Role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of DME

Early retinal microvascular changes in diabetes include thickening of the capillary basement membrane, loss of pericytes, vascular hyperpermeability, and capillary dilatation. Animal models have suggested that these changes can occur within weeks of diabetes onset.^3,6,7 Hyperglycemia is the major driver of initial pathophysiology, with both the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and the UK Prospective Diabetes Study firmly establishing an inverse correlation between proactive glycemic control and development of retinopathy.^8,9 While the inciting events are still unclear, high concentrations of glucose are known to induce endothelial dysfunction, leading to BRB breakdown and retinal vascular leakage.^3,7,10,11 Disruption of tight junctions between vascular endothelial cells is a critical process in the development of DME. In the healthy retina, water and solute flux is actively controlled to maintain an effective osmotic gradient.^11,12 Diabetes-induced retinal vascular inflammation critically modifies these processes, leading to BRB breakdown, extravasation of plasma proteins, and tissue edema. Formation of edema is often perpetuated by coexisting pathologies, such as dyslipidemia and hypertension, which has both pressure and inflammatory contributions.

DME displays features characteristic of a chronic, low-grade, local inflammatory response.¹⁰ Vitreous fluid from patients with DME shows evidence of active inflammation, containing elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin [IL] 1β and IL-6, and high-mobility group box-1 protein [HMGB1]), chemokines (monocyte chemotactic protein 1 [MCP-1], RANTES [CCL5], IL-8, interferon gamma-induced protein 10 [CXCL10], and stromal cell-derived factor 1 [CXCL12]), angiogenic factors (VEGF and platelet-derived growth factor), and adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1] and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) (Table 1).^13–19 Levels of anti-inflammatory proteins, such as pigment epithelium-derived factor, are concurrently reduced.¹⁴ Activated microglia play an important role in early retinal inflammatory responses through the release of TNF-α, while local inflammation directs the recruitment and irreversible attachment of circulating leukocytes to the retinal vascular endothelium (leukostasis), providing another important source of pro-inflammatory mediators.^20–22 These elevations in ocular levels of inflammatory mediators do not correlate with plasma levels, indicating that the inflammation is locally driven,^15,23 and this is further supported by evidence of enhanced pro-inflammatory gene transcription in DME-affected eyes.²⁴

Table 1.

Key inflammatory mediators driving BRB breakdown in diabetic macular edema

Mediator	Contribution to BRB breakdown
Leukocytes	Rich content of readily releasable mediators including cytokines, chemokines, superoxide, and proteolytic enzymes that perpetuate inflammation, damage underlying EC, promote BRB breakdown, and participate in tissue remodeling Expression of Fas ligand directly encourages EC death (neutrophils)
Growth factors (VEGF, TGFβ)	Phosphorylation of tight and adherens junctional molecules, leading to breakdown of BRB (VEGF) Activation of ECs, expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and leukostasis (VEGF) Vascular remodeling via multiple pathways (TGFβ in particular)
Oxidative stress (O2−, H2O2,ONOO−)	Radicals cause cell damage and vasodilation, while having inherent signaling qualities, including PKC activation Increases the formation of AGE and lipid mediators Activates production of pro-inflammatory mediators (superoxide/hydrogen peroxide)
Cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, HMGB1)	Stimulate the production and release of further pro-inflammatory mediators Encourage reorganization of junctional proteins, leading to BRB breakdown (IL-6), sometimes in conjunction with leukocyte recruitment (TNF, IL-1β) High local concentrations promote cell death, including ECs and pericytes (TNF, IL-1β)
Chemokines (MCP-1, IL-8, SDF-1)	Induce VEGF expression (SDF-1) Direct recruitment of cellular mediators toward the retina, from both the blood and within the tissue (MCP-1, IL-8, SDF-1) Can also directly induce EC junctional reorganization and BRB breakdown (IL-8)
Adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin)	Allow attachment of blood leukocytes to ECs, initiating leukostasis and diapedesis
AGE	Act on RAGE receptors to initiate mediator production
Protein kinases (PKC)	Phosphorylate junctional molecules to induce BRB breakdown (PKC) Induce production/release of many other mediators (PKC)
Lipid mediators and eicosanoids (LTB4, PGE1, PGE2, PLA2)	Chemotactic for leukocytes (LTB4) Promote reorganization of EC junctional proteins, leading to BRB breakdown (LTB4, PGE1) Induce vasodilation (PGE2) Promote retinal VEGF, ICAM-1, and TNF-α expression (PLA2)
MMP (MMP9)	Digests basement membrane, releasing mediators and also weakening vascular support Proteolytically activate chemokines May aid the diapedesis of leukocytes but damage pericyte layer
Hypoxia (low pO2 and high metabolite levels)	Induces production of pro-inflammatory mediators and initiates angiogenesis, both of which encourage BRB breakdown

Abbreviations: AGE, advanced glycation end-products; BRB, blood–retinal barrier; EC, endothelial cell; HMGB1, high-mobility group box-1 protein; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; IL, interleukin; LTB₄, leukotriene B₄; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; MMP, metalloproteinase; PGE, prostaglandin E; PKC, protein kinase C; PLA2, phospholipase A2; pO₂, partial pressure of oxygen; RAGE, receptor for AGE; SDF-1, stromal cell-derived factor 1; TGFβ, transforming growth factor-beta; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

Intravascular and extravasated neutrophils perpetuate local inflammation by inciting microvascular damage and the release of stored mediators, and additionally have the potential to cause capillary occlusion.^20,22,25 Leukostasis is temporally and spatially linked to vascular leakage in murine models of diabetes.²² Neutrophils are also prominent producers of reactive oxygen species, which are thought to be important in regulating vascular permeability.^6,13,26

Breakdown of the BRB and enhancement of vascular permeability in response to pro-inflammatory factors (most notably VEGF, TNF-α, ICAM-1, MCP-1, and IL-1β)^27,28 and reactive oxygen species²⁹ are mediated through disassembly of tight junction proteins (occludins and cadherins) at intercellular tight junctions^30–32 and adherens junctions³³ on vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells.^30,31 BRB breakdown can also be caused by cytokine-induced vascular cell death and by leukocyte-mediated vascular occlusion.²²

Although a number of anti-inflammatory therapies significantly inhibit the development of DME, inhibition of specific mediators has been largely unsuccessful.^13,23 This is likely because of the redundant nature of inflammation and suggests that a broader dampening of the immune response might offer the best means of restoring and protecting vision.

Mechanism of action of intraocular corticosteroids in DME

The ocular corticosteroids dexamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide, and fluocinolone acetonide are potent and selective agonists at the glucocorticoid receptor, of which multiple isoforms are expressed in ocular tissues.³⁴ The resulting steroid–receptor complex translocates from the cell cytoplasm to the nucleus, where it brings about induction/repression of gene transcription, mRNA, and protein synthesis.^35,36 In addition to these nuclear events, the steroid–receptor complex can trigger signal transduction events within the cytosol,³⁵ such as the release of annexin-1,³⁷ a modulator of leukocyte trafficking.³⁸ In contrast to the nuclear actions of glucocorticoids, these “non-genomic” effects are rapid, since they are not mediated through mRNA/protein synthesis.

In DME, corticosteroids stabilize the existing retinal vasculature and are antiangiogenic, directly suppressing the production of paracrine angiogenic factors, including VEGF, and reducing the formation of new blood vessels.^12,39 Through repression of key pro-inflammatory transcription factors, such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) and activator protein 1, the pro-inflammatory feedback loop established in macular edema is disrupted.^13,23 Corticosteroids inhibit phospholipase A2,¹² which is upregulated in the retinal microvasculature of the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat^40,41 and is implicated in retinal VEGF, ICAM-1, and TNF-α expression and retinal edema formation.^41,42 Corticosteroids also induce expression of several anti-inflammatory proteins, including IL-10, adenosine, and IκBα, the natural inhibitor of NFκB,³⁵ actively dampening the reaction. Intravitreal dexamethasone has been shown to reduce retinal leukostasis and vascular endothelial ICAM-1 expression in the diabetic rat model.⁴³

At the BRB, corticosteroids act to maintain tight junction integrity by promoting tight junction protein expression and translocation to the endothelial/epithelial cell border,²⁸ and by protecting against oxidative stress-induced disruption of tight junction proteins in retinal pigment epithelial cells.⁴⁴ In addition to reducing retinal vascular permeability, corticosteroids also promote retinal fluid clearance through their effects on transcellular aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and potassium channels, the two main channels controlling retinal fluid movement on retinal Müller cells.^45,46

The commonly used ocular corticosteroids, dexamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide, and fluocinolone acetonide, differ in their glucocorticoid receptor-binding affinity (dexamethasone > triamcinolone acetonide > fluocinolone acetonide) and lipophilicity (triamcinolone acetonide > fluocinolone acetonide > dexamethasone),³⁴ which could potentially translate into clinically important differences in ocular activity.

Barriers to intraocular delivery of corticosteroids

The principal challenge in pharmacotherapy of retinal disease is how to achieve effective and sustained intraretinal drug concentrations while minimizing unwanted drug effects on other ocular structures. Ocular penetration of systemically administered drugs (particularly large and/or hydrophilic molecules) is restricted by the BRB, which comprises the tight junctions of the retinal vascular endothelium (inner BRB) and the retinal pigment epithelium (outer BRB). For those drugs that do cross the BRB (small lipophilic molecules), the diluting effect of blood volume requires the use of large systemic doses, with the attendant risk of systemic adverse effects, while the rapid flow rate in the choroidal and retinal circulation limits drug exposure time.

The topically applied drug has to diffuse through multiple ocular tissues to reach the posterior segment of the eye.⁴⁷ Ocular surface tear mechanisms are a major factor limiting initial drug exposure, while any drug that does manage to penetrate the corneal/conjunctival epithelia and sclera is liable to be removed by subconjunctival–episcleral blood and lymph flow, the choroidal circulation, and the transcellular xenobiotic efflux transporters of the retinal pigment epithelium.⁴⁸ Consequently, topically administered ocular drugs show extremely low intravitreal bioavailability, typically of the order of <0.001%.⁴⁹

Likewise, periocular administration using the trans-scleral absorption pathway (subconjunctival, sub-Tenon’s, or retrobulbar injection) encounters multiple anatomic barriers (episclera, sclera, choroid, Bruch’s membrane, and retinal pigment epithelium) to drug delivery to the posterior eye. Moreover, trans-scleral clearance mechanisms (subconjunctival/episcleral lymphatics and blood flow, and choroidal blood flow) and outward-directed clearance flow from the vitreous humor (the posterior transretinal elimination pathway) further restrict drug penetration into target tissues of the posterior segment.⁵⁰ Collectively, these factors result in low intravitreal bioavailability (typically 0.01%–0.1%) for drugs administered via the periocular route.⁴⁸

Intravitreal drug injection through the pars plana has the advantage of bypassing the BRB and achieving maximal intravitreal bioavailability.⁴⁸ However, as a directly invasive technique, intravitreal injection carries risk of procedure-related complications (notably IOP elevation, endophthalmitis, and retinal hemorrhage, tear, or detachment). Rates of endophthalmitis and retinal detachment are estimated at 0.2% and 0.05%, respectively, per intravitreal injection.⁵¹ Moreover, the duration of action of intravitreally administered drugs is limited by the presence of drug clearance mechanisms, namely the posterior transretinal and anterior aqueous humor elimination pathways and the efflux transporters on the retinal pigment epithelium.⁴⁸ For the commonly used ocular corticosteroids (dexamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide, and fluocinolone acetonide), the intravitreal half-life of the solubilized drug fraction is 2–3 hours in monkey and rabbit eyes.^34,52 Accordingly, for treatment of retinal disorders, frequent intravitreal injections of soluble corticosteroids would be required, placing considerable treatment burden on the patient, and also increasing the likelihood of procedure-related complications.

In order to prolong drug retention in the vitreous humor, several sustained-release systems have been developed, including injectable drug suspensions and biodegradable and non-biodegradable intravitreal implants. Biodegradable nanocarrier systems (liposomes, nanoparticles, nanocrystals, and nanoemulsions) are currently under development, and may have future application in the treatment of posterior eye disease.⁵³ In addition to Ozurdex^® (Allergan, Inc.; dexamethasone biodegradable implant), other sustained-release corticosteroid systems that are used intravitreally include Kenalog^® (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA; triamcinolone acetonide suspension), Trivaris^® (Allergan, Inc.; triamcinolone acetonide suspension), Triesence^® (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA; triamcinolone acetonide suspension), Retisert^® (Bausch & Lomb Inc., Rochester, NY, USA; fluocinolone acetonide non-biodegradable implant), and Iluvien^® (Alimera Sciences, Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA; fluocinolone acetonide non-biodegradable implant). Of these sustained-release corticosteroid systems, Ozurdex^® and Iluvien^® are currently approved for treatment of DME (Table 2). Factors that can influence drug release include the physicochemical characteristics of the implant (eg, drug–polymer interactions), the solubility of the drug in the vitreous humor, and the proximity of the implant to the primary elimination pathway.⁵⁴ Posterior vitreous implant placement optimizes drug delivery to the retina and reduces drug exposure in the lens and trabecular meshwork, which are tissues associated with adverse ocular effects of corticosteroids (subcapsular cataract formation and IOP elevation).³⁴

Table 2.

Comparative efficacy and safety of dexamethasone and fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implants in diabetic macular edema

	Ozurdex®	Iluvien®
Active drug	Dexamethasone	Fluocinolone acetonide
Formulation	Biodegradable implant	Non-biodegradable implant
Dose	0.7 mg	0.19 mg
Duration of action (months)	≤6	24–36
FDA approval for DME treatment	2014	2014
Phase III clinical trial in DME	MEAD82	FAME92
Trial design	rand, db, mc, sham controlleda N=1,048	rand, db, mc, sham controlledb N=956
Efficacy (% patients)
≥15-ETDRS-letter BCVA gain at 3 years	18.4c 22.2e	28.7d 27.8f
Ocular safety (% patients)
Elevated IOP	34.1c 36.0e	37.1d 45.5f
Cataract-related adverse eventsg	64.1c 67.9e	81.7d 88.7f
Incisional glaucoma surgery	0.3c 0.6e	4.8d 8.1f

Notes:

^aRescue laser not permitted; repeat treatment permitted at ≥6-month intervals.

^bRescue laser permitted after 6 weeks; repeat treatment permitted at ≥12-month intervals.

^cDexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.35 mg.

^dFluocinolone acetonide low-dose intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day).

^eDexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg.

^fFluocinolone acetonide high-dose intravitreal implant (0.5 µg/day).

^gPhakic patients.

Abbreviations: BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity; db, double-blind; DME, diabetic macular edema; ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; FDA, US Food and Drug Administration; IOP, intraocular pressure; mc, multicenter; rand, randomized; FAME, Fluocinolone Acetonide for Macular Edema.

Dexamethasone intravitreal drug delivery system

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant, containing micronized preservative-free dexamethasone 0.7 mg in a biodegradable copolymer of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (which eventually breaks down into carbon dioxide and water), is designed to deliver drug to the retina over a period of up to 6 months after intravitreal injection. By avoiding the peak vitreous drug concentrations produced by intermittent bolus corticosteroid injections and the need for frequent repeat injections, the implant may potentially reduce the risk of unwanted steroid-associated ocular effects (cataract formation, IOP elevation, and glaucoma) and injection-related complications (lens injury, retinal detachment, and infectious endophthalmitis). The insertion procedure, which is performed in the office under local anesthesia, involves placement of the rod-shaped implant (6 mm in length and 0.46 mm in diameter) in the vitreous cavity via pars plana injection with a single-use applicator and 22-gauge needle. To avoid vitreal reflux through the scleral puncture, a tunneled injection technique is used to create an angled intrascleral injection tract. Despite the relatively large diameter of the injector needle, the level of pain associated with the insertion procedure is not appreciably different from that produced by intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment, as administered with a 28- to 30-gauge needle.⁵⁵ Since the implant is biodegradable, subsequent implant(s) can be inserted without the need for surgical removal of the existing implant.

High-speed, real-time photography of the injection procedure reveals that the impact velocity of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant, delivered using the applicator, is insufficient to cause retinal damage.⁵⁶ Reported complications associated with the injection procedure include isolated cases of accidental lens injection^57–59 and splitting or fracture of the implant either during or immediately after intravitreal injection.^60–63 Inadvertent lens injection is an extremely rare event, but if it occurs, it can be managed successfully with prompt surgical extraction of the lens to avoid possible IOP elevation, and implantation of an intraocular lens.^57–59 Implant fracture can result from misalignment of the implant within the applicator.⁶¹ Although the fragmented implant does not appear to cause more intraocular complications than the intact implant, monitoring for unexpected complications is recommended in such cases.⁶⁰

Complications that have been reported with the implant in situ include isolated cases of migration into the anterior chamber,^64–69 potentially leading to development of corneal edema.^65,66 Aphakia and pseudophakia in association with imperfect zonular/posterior capsular integrity are risk factors for anterior chamber migration.^65,69 Accordingly, use of dexamethasone intravitreal implant should be avoided in eyes with aphakia, an anterior chamber intraocular lens, or rupture of the posterior lens capsule.

Pharmacokinetic profile of dexamethasone intravitreal implant

Pharmacokinetic studies in nonhuman primate (monkey) and rabbit eyes indicate that intraocular dexamethasone concentrations peak at 2–6 weeks after injection of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant, and that higher levels are achieved in the retina than in the vitreous.^70,71 In the monkey eye, dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg shows a biphasic release pattern, with vitreal and retinal dexamethasone concentrations displaying a high plateau (vitreous, ~100–1,000 µg/mL; retinal, ~100–1,000 µg/g) during the first 2 months after implant insertion, declining sharply during the third month, and leveling off at a considerably lower plateau (vitreous, ~0.1–1 ng/mL; retinal, ~0.1–1 ng/g) for the next 3–4 months, reaching nondetectable levels after 7–8 months.⁷⁰ Assuming that the steady-state concentrations of dexamethasone achieved in the monkey eye approximate to those in the human eye, these findings would suggest that dexamethasone intravitreal implant achieves higher and more steady vitreal drug concentrations during the initial release phase than subconjunctival,⁷² periocular,⁷³ topical,⁷⁴ or oral⁷⁵ dexamethasone administration in human eyes.

Vitrectomy is known to accelerate the intraocular clearance of many drugs, including triamcinolone acetonide,⁷⁶ and differences in drug disposition between nonvitrectomized and vitrectomized eyes may potentially influence the effectiveness of treatment. In contrast, a pharmacokinetic study in rabbit eyes indicated that vitreous and retinal dexamethasone concentration-vs-time profiles following injection of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg were similar in nonvitrectomized and vitrectomized eyes.⁷¹

Systemic drug exposure from the dexamethasone intravitreal implant (0.35 mg or 0.7 mg) appears to be negligible in humans, and plasma dexamethasone concentrations are generally below the lower limit of quantification (50 pg/mL). Accordingly, the potential for systemic corticosteroid-related adverse effects with dexamethasone intravitreal implant is minimal.

Efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in DME

Several Phase II and Phase III studies have demonstrated the efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (0.7 mg or 0.35 mg) in improving visual and retinal anatomic outcomes in patients with DME (Table 3). A randomized, single-masked, 6-month, Phase II study involving incisional vitreous placement of the dexamethasone implant in patients with persistent DME (n=171) provided evidence of a possible dose–response relationship, with more patients achieving a ≥10-letter or ≥15-letter gain in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg than with dexamethasone implant 0.35 mg at 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months; however, the differences between the active treatment groups were not statistically significant.⁷⁷ Significant improvements in macular thickness and retinal capillary leakage were noted at 6 months in the dexamethasone implant-treated patients compared with nontreated controls; as with the visual acuity findings, these anatomic responses tended to be more pronounced with the 0.7 mg than with the 0.35 mg dose. In a subsequent analysis of data from this study, dexamethasone intravitreal implant was found to display similar efficacy in focal, cystoid, and diffuse DME.⁷⁸

Table 3.

Summary of Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema

Study design	Duration	Patient characteristics	Treatments	Endpoints	Results
Phase II
Randomized, single-masked, multicenter (Haller et al77)	6 months	Persistent (>3 months) macular edema after laser/pharmacotherapy; BCVA 35–67 ETDRS letters; n=171	DEX implant 0.7 mg DEX implant 0.35 mg No treatment	Percent patients with ≥10-letter improvement in BCVA CRT change from B/L Percent patients with ≥2-level improvement in macular leakage	DEX implant 0.7 mg (33%) and 0.35 mg (19%) similar to no treatment (23%) at 6 months (P= NS) DEX implant 0.7 mg (mean –132.3 µm) superior to no treatment (+30.2 µm) at 3 months (P<0.001) DEX implant 0.7 mg (36.4%) and 0.35 mg (22.2%) superior to no treatment (5.4%) at 3 months (P≤0.01)
Open-label, multicenter, noncomparative (Boyer et al80)	6 months	Treatment-resistant DME; prior pars plana vitrectomy; BCVA 24–70 ETDRS letters; CRT ≥275 µm; n=55	DEX implant 0.7 mg	BCVA change from B/L CRT change from B/L Percent patients with macular leakage	Mean +3.0 ETDRS letters at 6 months (P<0.05) Mean −38.9 µm at 6 months (P=0.004) 96.4% at B/L vs 84.0% at 6 months
Randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, multicenter (Callanan et al81)	12 months	Diffuse macular edema; BCVA 34–70 ETDRS letters; CRT ≥275 µm; n=253	DEX implant 0.7 mg + laser therapy Sham injection + laser therapy	Percent patients with ≥10-letter improvement in BCVA BCVA change from B/L (AUC approach) CRT change from B/L Macular leakage change from B/L	DEX implant + laser superior to laser alone at 1 month and 9 months (P≤0.007) DEX implant + laser superior to laser alone over 12 months (P<0.001) DEX implant + laser similar to laser alone at 12 months (P= NS) DEX implant + laser superior to laser alone at 3–12 months (P<0.05)
Phase III
Randomized, double-masked, multicenter; pooled analysis (Boyer et al82; Danis et al ARVO83)	3 years	BCVA 34–68 ETDRS letters; CRT ≥300 µm; n=1,048	DEX implant 0.7 mg DEX implant 0.35 mg Sham injection	Percent patients with ≥15-letter improvement in BCVA CRT: mean AUC change from B/L	DEX implant 0.7 mg (22.2%) and 0.35 mg (18.4%) superior to sham (12.0%) at 3 years (P≤0.018) DEX implant 0.7 mg (−111.6 µm) and 0.35 mg (−107.9 µm) superior to sham (−41.9 µm) at 3 years (P≤0.001)

Abbreviations: ARVO, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology; AUC, area under curve; B/L, baseline; BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity; CRT, central retinal thickness; DEX implant, dexamethasone intravitreal implant; DME, diabetic macular edema; ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; NS, nonsignificant.

Evidence of accelerated clearance of corticosteroids from vitrectomized compared with nonvitrectomized eyes^76,79 might suggest that the clinical benefits of dexamethasone intravitreal implant would be reduced by vitrectomy. The CHAMPLAIN study, a multicenter, open-label, noncomparative, 6-month, Phase II investigation of the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg in patients with treatment-resistant DME and prior pars plana vitrectomy (n=55) reported sustained improvements in visual and anatomic outcomes in this difficult-to-treat patient group.⁸⁰ Improvements from baseline in BCVA and central subfield retinal thickness peaked at 2–3 months postinjection and persisted, albeit at a diminished level, until the end of the study.⁸⁰

A randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, 12-month, Phase II study of dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg in combination with laser therapy in patients with diffuse DME (n=253) found that dexamethasone implant plus laser therapy produced greater improvements in BCVA, macular thickness, and capillary leakage than laser therapy alone, although in most cases the treatment advantage was not sustained for the full 12 months.⁸¹ Patients received dexamethasone implant at baseline and laser therapy at month 1, and could receive up to three additional laser treatments and one additional dexamethasone implant treatment as needed. Significantly more patients showed a ≥10-letter gain in BCVA with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg plus laser therapy than with laser therapy alone at 9 months (31.7% vs 17.3%) but not at 12 months (27.8% vs 23.6%). Analysis of the change from baseline in BCVA over the 12-month study period indicated significantly greater improvement with dexamethasone implant plus laser than with laser alone. Central subfield retinal thickness was reduced to a significantly greater extent in the dexamethasone implant plus laser group than in the laser-alone group during the first 4 months, while vascular leakage showed a significantly larger reduction in the dexamethasone implant plus laser group than in the laser-alone group over the full 12 months.

Two large, multicenter, randomized, Phase III clinical trials to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of dexamethasone implant have recently been completed in patients with DME.⁸² Patients with a BCVA of 34–68 letters (20/200–20/50 Snellen equivalent) and central subfield retinal thickness ≥300 µm were randomized to treatment with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg or 0.35 mg, or sham procedure and followed for 3 years. As the trials were of identical design, the results were pooled for analysis (total of 1,048 patients).⁸² Dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg and 0.35 mg, administered at ≥6-month intervals over 3 years, provided robust long-term improvement in visual acuity and macular edema, with significantly more patients showing a ≥15-letter gain in BCVA at the end of the study with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg and 0.35 mg than with sham injection (22.2% and 18.4% vs 12.0%; P≤0.018). Although the changes in visual acuity were confounded by development and/or progression of cataract in a substantial proportion of phakic eyes after the first year, significant overall improvement in BCVA over the 3-year treatment period was obtained with dexamethasone implant.

Anatomical assessments, using optical coherence tomography, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography, indicated that dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg and 0.35 mg produced rapid and sustained reductions in measures of macular edema over the 3-year treatment period, and slowed retinopathy progression.⁸³ On completion of 3 years of treatment with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg and 0.35 mg, significant reductions (vs sham procedure) were noted in central subfield retinal thickness (mean, −111.6 µm and −107.9 µm vs −41.9 µm), macular volume (mean, −1.06 mm³ and −1.14 mm³ vs −0.31 mm³), and area of central retinal thickening (mean, −2.75 and −2.93 vs −1.49 disk areas). Patients treated with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg and 0.35 mg were significantly more likely to show an improvement in clinically significant macular edema after 3 years than sham-treated controls (20.4% and 22.4% vs 12.4%). In addition, treatment with dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg slowed the progression of diabetic retinopathy, delaying by approximately 12 months the onset of two-step progression in Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Score.⁸⁴

Small-scale, short-term exploratory studies and retrospective case studies suggest that dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg is of potential benefit in persistent, treatment-refractory DME, including cystoid macular edema (Figures 1 and 2). A prospective study in 15 patients (16 eyes) with chronic DME nonresponsive to bevacizumab (as indicated by the absence of clinically significant reduction in CRT after at least three monthly bevacizumab injections) reported significant improvements in BCVA and central subfield retinal thickness for up to 3 months after insertion of dexamethasone intravitreal implant.⁸⁵ A retrospective study assessing the effects of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg in 33 patients (37 eyes) with prolonged, treatment-refractory cystoid macular edema of various etiologies reported significant improvements in BCVA (mean 2–3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines from baseline) and central macular thickness (46% decrease) during approximately 6 months of follow-up in the subset of patients (14 eyes) with DME.⁸⁶ In a retrospective review of medical records of 58 patients with chronic DME that was refractory to laser and intravitreal anti-VEGF and/or intravitreal steroid therapy, dexamethasone intravitreal implant produced significant improvement in BCVA and foveal thickness for up to 6 months post-insertion.⁸⁷ Favorable results have also been reported with dexamethasone intravitreal implant in small cohorts of patients with persistent DME.^88,89

Figure 1.

A 64-year-old male diagnosed with diabetic macular edema in the right eye.

Notes: Color and red-free fundus photographs of the RE indicate thickening of the fovea, as well as intraretinal small hemorrhages and microaneurysms (A and B). After ten monthly bevacizumab injections, optical coherence tomography indicates marked macular thickening, while fluorescein angiography fails to identify any treatable lesions (C and D). Intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant reduces central macular thickness from a baseline (post-bevacizumab) level of 412 µm (BCVA 6/12) (E) to 286 µm (BCVA 6/10) at 6 weeks (F), 285 µm (BCVA 6/12) at 12 weeks (G), and 309 µm (BCVA 6/15) at 18 weeks postinjection (H). Images courtesy of Dr A Loewenstein.

Abbreviation: BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity.

Figure 2.

A 62-year-old patient with cystoid macular edema in the left eye previously treated with three monthly injections of intravitreal bevacizumab.

Notes: Early- and late-phase fluorescein angiograms indicate diffuse leakage temporal to the fovea, and distortion of the foveal avascular zone with some non-perfusion (A and B). Optical coherence tomography images indicate a decrease in central macular thickness from a baseline (post-bevacizumab) level of 475 µm (C) to 235 µm at 3 months after dexamethasone implant injection (D), with improvement in BCVA from 20/60 to 20/40 over this period. Images courtesy of Dr A Loewenstein.

Abbreviation: BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity.

Tolerability of dexamethasone intravitreal implant

Common complications of ocular corticosteroid therapy are IOP elevation and cataract formation/progression. In the Phase III registration studies of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg and 0.35 mg in the treatment of DME,⁸² 29.7% of patients treated with dexamethasone implant (compared with 4.3% of sham-treated patients) showed clinically significant IOP elevation (IOP ≥25 mmHg). In most cases, this was managed with ocular hypotensive medication or observation, and only seven patients (1.0%) required glaucoma incisional surgery (three patients, 0.4%) or IOP-lowering laser therapy (four patients, 0.6%). The increase in IOP was generally transient, reaching a peak at approximately 6 weeks after each dexamethasone implant injection, with IOP returning to baseline levels within 6 months postinjection. The incidence and extent of IOP elevation after each dexa methasone implant injection did not change appreciably over the 3-year treatment period. Among phakic patients, 66.0% experienced a cataract-related adverse effect (cataract, cataract cortical, cataract nuclear, cataract subcapsular, or lenticular opacities) during treatment with dexamethasone implant (compared with 20.4% of sham-treated patients), and 55.8% of dexamethasone implant-treated patients required cataract surgery during the study (compared with 7.2% of sham-treated patients). The incidence of cataract-related adverse effects increased during the second and third years of treatment with dexamethasone implant, and most cataract surgery procedures occurred during this period.

In addition to elevated IOP and cataract, the most frequent adverse events reported with dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the Phase III studies in DME included conjunctival hemorrhage (23.5%), vitreous hemorrhage (10.0%), macular fibrosis (8.3%), conjunctival hyperemia (7.2%), eye pain (6.1%), vitreous detachment (5.8%), and dry eye (5.8%)⁸² (Table 4). Injection-related adverse effects, such as retinal tear, retinal detachment, vitreous loss, and endophthalmitis, occurred in <2% of patients.

Table 4.

Most frequently reported adverse events in Phase III studies of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of diabetic macular edema

Adverse event	Incidence (% patients)
	DEX implant 0.35 mg	DEX implant 0.7 mg	Sham control
Cataract relateda	64.1	67.9	20.4
IOP elevationb	27.4	32.0	4.3
Conjunctival hemorrhage	25.9	21.0	12.9
Vitreous hemorrhage	13.1	6.9	7.1
Macular fibrosis	10.8	5.8	2.9
Conjunctival hyperemia	8.7	5.8	5.4
Vitreous detachment	6.7	4.9	2.3
Retinal hemorrhage	5.8	4.0	4.3
Dry eye	5.5	6.1	2.6
Conjunctival edema	5.0	4.3	1.1
Conjunctivitis	4.4	5.5	2.3

Notes:

^aCataract, cataract cortical, cataract subcapsular, cataract nuclear, or lenticular opacities.

^bIOP ≥25 mmHg. Data from Boyer et al.⁸²

Abbreviations: DEX implant, dexamethasone intravitreal implant; IOP, intraocular pressure.

Place of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in management of DME

In comparison to the other sustained-release corticosteroid delivery systems, dexamethasone implant has the advantage of ease of administration, and the implant injection can be performed in the outpatient setting, while the biodegradable polymer matrix allows re-treatment without the need for surgical removal of the existing implant. The major challenge with intravitreal corticosteroid implants is their high rate of intraocular complications, notably IOP elevation and cataract. Dexamethasone is less lipophilic than fluocino-lone acetonide and triamcinolone acetonide and shows less sequestration in the lens and trabecular meshwork,⁹⁰ and hence has potentially lower risk of causing IOP elevation and cataract; however, this has yet to be confirmed in head-to-head comparisons of dexamethasone with other intravitreal corticosteroid implants.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant has a shorter duration of action than fluocinolone acetonide implant, with macular edema typically reverting to pretreatment levels approximately 5–6 months, and in some cases, as early as 3 months, after injection (Figure 3). Despite the temporary morphological effect, macular edema usually responds to re-treatment. Repeat injections performed at approximately 6-month intervals produce consistent reductions in macular thickness, with no apparent attenuation of response over time (Figure 4).

Figure 3.

A 72-year-old patient with diabetic macular edema in the right eye previously treated with three monthly injections of intravitreal bevacizumab.

Notes: Color and red-free fundus photographs (A and B) and fluorescein angiograms (C and D) of the right eye show multiple microaneurysms, as well as leakage primarily in the temporal fovea, with accumulation in a cystoid pattern. Optical coherence tomography images indicate a central macular thickness of 525 µm on presentation (E), which transiently decreases to 269 µm at 1 month after dexamethsone implant injection (F) before returning to pretreatment levels (534 µm) at 3 months postinjection (G). Images courtesy of Dr A Loewenstein.

Figure 4.

A 65-year-old female with regressed proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the right eye previously treated with three monthly injections of intravitreal bevacizumab.

Notes: Early- and late-phase fluorescein angiograms reveal significant leakage, with accumulation in a cystoid pattern, and multiple-scatter scars (A and B). Optical coherence tomography images indicate a decrease in central macular thickness from a baseline (post-bevacizumab) level of 846 µm (BCVA 6/30) (C) to a trough of 209 µm (BCVA 6/15) at 11 weeks after the first dexamethasone implant injection (D), with reversal of effect occurring by week 20 (CMT 752 µm; BCVA 6/15) (E). Consistent, marked reductions in central macular thickness to trough levels of 222 µm (BCVA 6/12), 209 µm (BCVA 6/30), and 235 µm (BCVA 6/15) were recorded 9–12 weeks after the second, third, and fourth dexamethasone implant injections, respectively (F–H). Images courtesy of Dr A Loewenstein.

Abbreviation: BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity.

In comparison to intravitreal anti-VEGF agents, dexamethasone intravitreal implant requires less frequent repeat injection, which might be anticipated to result in fewer injection-related complications, lower treatment costs, and improved patient compliance. Although prospective head-to-head comparisons have yet to be conducted with anti-VEGF agents, dexamethasone intravitreal implant (in common with other injectable corticosteroid implants) is unlikely to replace anti-VEGF agents as first-line therapy for DME because of the risk of steroid-related intraocular complications (notably cataract, IOP elevation, and glaucoma). However, because of its favorable pharmacokinetic properties, dexamethasone intravitreal implant may potentially be an appropriate first-line therapy for DME with foveal involvement in vitrectomized eyes. In addition, it appears to be a suitable treatment option for persistent DME and DME that is unresponsive to anti-VEGF or laser therapy.

Use of dexamethasone intravitreal implant is contraindicated in the following cases: patients with active or suspected ocular or periocular infections, including most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva (eg, dendritic keratitis, vaccinia, and varicella), mycobacterial infections, and fungal diseases; glaucoma patients with a cup-to-disk ratio >0.8; patients with a torn or ruptured posterior lens capsule; and patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the implant.⁹¹ In addition, use of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (in common with other corticosteroids) is not recommended in patients with a history of ocular herpes simplex because of the risk of viral reactivation.⁹¹ Similarly, it should be borne in mind that the use of dexamethasone intravitreal implant may increase the risk of secondary ocular infections.

Further insight into the role of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of DME, and its optimal schedule of administration, is expected from ongoing/planned clinical trials that are variously exploring its adjunctive use with anti-VEGF agents (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01309451), in the post-vitrectomy setting (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT01788475 and NCT01613716), and in anti-VEGF-refractory disease (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT01571232, NCT01790685, and NCT 01951066), as well as the effects of a shortened (5-month) re-treatment interval in DME (NCT01492400).