SCORE Study updates CRVO, BRVO

Dr. Scott presented an update on the Standard of Care versus COrticosteroid for REtinal Vein Occlusion (SCORE) Study during a symposium on evolving algorithms in the management of retinal vascular diseases here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. The SCORE study compares standard of care with intravitreal injections of triamcinolone for the treatment of macular edema associated with CRVO and BRVO. Dr. Scott is professor of ophthalmology and health evaluation sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA.

Corticosteroids for macular edema associated with CRVO or BRVO were first utilized in the United States in 1999, with intravitreal injection of the commercially available formulation of triamcinolone acetonide.

"Because of the potential efficacy of this treatment modality, this therapeutic intervention was widely adopted in the retina community," she said.

In five studies published from 2001 to 2004, anatomic improvement was reported in all 47 patients. All of the studies also reported improvement in the mean visual acuity from baseline to the final follow-up.

"Of note, however, is the relatively short follow-up duration in these reports," Dr. Scott said.

Four additional published studies (including 77 patients) have appeared in the past 2 years.

"Here again, short-term gain in visual acuity and anatomic improvement is reported," Dr. Scott said.

"The results of the use of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion are not unequivocal, however," she continued. "If one looks at the more recent reports that have longer-term follow-up, one can see that often what is reported is visual stabilization rather than visual improvement. These conflicting reports in the literature underscore the need for a definitive study."

Safety of triamcinolone

The literature also includes conflicting reports on the safety of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injections, Dr. Scott said.

One recent report indicates possible in vivo toxicity. Rabbit retinas with 4, 8, or 20 mg of triamcinolone injected showed destruction of photoreceptor outer segments and migration of macrophage-like cells in the subretinal space. Eyes with the 20-mg dose injected showed more extensive damage and increased pigment granules in the retinal pigment epithelial cells. The source of triamcinolone in this study was the commercially available formulation.

Another recent report suggests in vitro toxicity from intravitreal triamcinolone. This study evaluated the effect of preservative-free triamcinolone on the viability of human retinal pigment epithelial and rat retinal neurosensory cells in culture.

"It was concluded that triamcinolone is potentially toxic to these two cell lines in a dose-response fashion," Dr. Scott said.

In contrast, a third study in an in vivo model found that triamcinolone was not toxic to the retina. Rabbit eyes had up to 16 mg of triamcinolone injected; normal histologic and electrophysiologic results were observed.

In another study in a rabbit model, the effects of both preservative-free triamcinolone and the commercially available formulation were analyzed 20 weeks after intravitreal injection. Vacuolization of the outer retina and inner nuclear layers and decreased density of the outer nuclear layer were observed in eyes with the commercial formulation injected, whereas normal histology was observed in eyes with the preservative-free formulation injected.

The SCORE Study