BESTCornea: The Belgian Endothelial Surgical Transplant of the Cornea
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
This study is designed as a randomised multicentric parallel group pragmatic trial of Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) versus Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) in corneal endothelial decompensation. the purpose is to compare the clinical and patient reported outcomes of both therapies across a broad range of indications.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
The current problem concerns variability in the provision of corneal endothelial keratoplasties available to patients in Belgium. Some patients receive DSAEK and some (albeit fewer) receive DMEK. Currently the type of corneal graft that a patient receives depends on the treating surgeon opinions.
In this study 220 patients in 11 surgical centres will be recruited and allocated to one of the two surgical options. Both the Ultrathin DSAEK and DMEK grafts will be prepared by corneal banks in the University Hospital of Liege and University Hospital of Antwerp respectively. Patients will be examined preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6 and 12 months. Clinical information such as best-corrected visual acuity and refraction will be collected as well as quality of life information based on the EQ-5D-5L and the VFQ 25 assessment tools. These data be used to compare the interventions both on the clinical level as well as from the patient perspective.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Active Comparator: UT-DSAEK Ultra-thin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty refers to the use of a corneal endothelial/Descemet graft with a thin layer of stroma (<110um) attached. |
Procedure: DSAEK
The main incision (3.5-5mm) is created at the corneal limbus or via a cornea-scleral tunnel with 2-3 smaller (approx. 1mm) paracentesis incisions. An ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) or a continuous infusion of water or air can be used to maintain the stability of the anterior chamber, according to the surgeon's preference. The corneal endothelium is scored using a scoring instrument and the central diseased corneal endothelium is removed. Once the anterior chamber is prepared, OVD or air has been removed, then the eye is ready for the new corneal graft.
The pre-cut corneal tissue delivered by the bank is then gently rinsed and may be stained with 0.06% trypan blue if required. The tissue is loaded into a glide or injector, and pulled into the anterior chamber using a smooth-tipped micro-forceps (e.g., Busin forceps). Once the graft enters the eye, it is lifted to the posterior cornea. The graft is further centred using air (or SF6 Gas) in the anterior chamber.
Other Names:
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| Active Comparator: DMEK Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty refers to the use of a corneal endothelial/Descemet graft with no layer of associated stroma (15-20um thick) |
Procedure: DMEK
The main incision (2.8-3mm) is created superior or temporally at the corneal limbus and is accompanied by 2-3 smaller paracentesis incisions. An ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) or a continuous infusion of water or air can be used to maintain the stability of the anterior chamber. The corneal endothelium is scored using a scoring instrument and the central diseased corneal endothelium is removed.
The DMEK roll is poured into a basin and rinsed. The graft is then stained with 0.06% trypan blue to aid in graft visualization. The graft is loaded into an injector and introduced into the anterior chamber. The graft is unrolled using external manoeuvres and once unrolled, it is lifted to the back of the cornea. The eye is then pressurised with a full air fill from 10 to 120 minutes. The pressure is then reduced and the case is completed by suturing any incisions required.
Other Names:
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Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- BCVA 12m [12 months]
Best-corrected visual acuity expressed in LogMAR
Secondary Outcome Measures
- BCVA 3 and 6m [3 and 6 months]
Best-corrected visual acuity expressed in LogMAR
- UCVA 3,6 and12m [3, 6 and 12 months]
Uncorrected visual acuity expressed in LogMAR
- Change in refraction [3, 6 and 12 months]
Change in objective refraction - spectacle correction
- Proportion of high vision [12 months]
Proportion of patients to achieve 0.2 LogMAR visual acuity or less
- EQ-5D-5L [3, 6 and 12 months]
Quality of life measured by the fifth level EuroQol (EQ-5L) instrument where five dimensions are scored at 5 levels - the higher the level, the worse the health state. The digits for the five dimensions can be combined to a 5-digit number to describe the patient's health state
- VFQ 25 [3, 6 and 12 months]
Vision related quality of life measured by the Visual Function Questionnaire(VFQ-25) scored on a scale of 0-100, with a higher score reporesenting higher quality of vision related quality of life.
- ECC [3, 6 and 12 months]
Endothelial cell count
- CCT [3, 6 and 12 months]
Central corneal thickness
- Complications [12 months]
Complications associated with the intervention
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy (FED);
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Bullous Keratopathy (BK);
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Other miscellaneous causes of endothelial dysfunction including decompensation of a previous corneal graft;
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Pseudophakic (post cataract surgery);
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Patients over 18 with the capacity to read and to understand the study information and to give informed consent, as well as study quality of life questionnaires;
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Patients willing and capable to attend the 3, 6, and 12-month follow-up appointments.
Exclusion Criteria:
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Inability to provide informed consent;
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Patients unable to attend the proposed follow up;
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Inclusion of the fellow eye in the study;
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Complex surgery combined with multiple pathologies (i.e., glaucoma surgery);
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Other contraindications to lamellar corneas surgery;
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Patients who elect not to participate;
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Patients under 18 years of age;
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Patients that are currently pregnant or breastfeeding;
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Phakic patients with no direct plan to perform cataract surgery.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
No locations specified.Sponsors and Collaborators
- University Hospital, Antwerp
- Belgium Health Care Knowledge Centre
Investigators
- Study Chair: Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill, MBBCh, PhD, University Hospital, Antwerp
- Principal Investigator: Carina Koppen, MD, PhD, University Hospital, Antwerp
- Principal Investigator: Bernard Duchesne, MD, PhD, University Hospital Liege
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- UZAntwerpen