OR2806 Levosulpiride-Induced Hyperprolactinemia For The Treatment Of Diabetic Macular Edema: A Phase 2 Pilot Clinical Trial
Authors: Clapp Carmen , Núñez-Amaro Carlos D , López Mariana , Adán-Castro Elva , Robles Osorio Ma Ludivina , García-Franco Renata , García-Roa Marlon , Villalpando Yolanda , Ramírez-Neria Paulina , Pineiro Nayeli , Rubio-Mijangos Juan F , Sánchez Jorge , Ramirez-Hernandez Gabriela , Siqueiros-Márquez Lourdes , Díaz-Lezama Nundehui , López-Star Ellery , Bertsch Thomas , de la Escalera Gonzalo Martínez , Triebel Jakob 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: C. Clapp: None. C.D. Núñez-Amaro: None. M. López: None. E. Adán-Castro: None. M. Robles Osorio: None. R. García-Franco: None. M. García-Roa: None. Y. Villalpando: None. P. Ramírez-Neria: None. N. Pineiro: None. J.F. Rubio-Mijangos: None. J. Sánchez: None. G. Ramirez-Hernandez: None. L. Siqueiros-Márquez: None. N. Díaz-Lezama: None. E. López-Star: None. T. Bertsch: None. G. Martínez de la Escalera: None. J. Triebel: None.

Vasoinhibin is a fragment of prolactin that inhibits the permeability and growth of blood vessels. The prokinetic dopamine D2 receptor blocker, levosulpiride, elevates the circulating levels of prolactin and the accumulation of vasoinhibin in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (1) suggesting clinical benefits due to the vascular properties of vasoinhibin. Here, we describe the 2-month results of a phase 2 clinical trial (2) investigating the biological activity of levosulpiride in center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME). This prospective, randomized, double-masked, dual-center, placebo-controlled, pilot study was carried out in individuals (aged 40 to 69 years) with DME involving the center of the macula and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between 58 and 16 ETDRS letters at 4 m (20/16 to 20/100 Snellen equivalent) or with PDR undergoing elective pars plana vitrectomy. Oral treatment (TID) with levosulpiride or placebo was for 8 weeks in DME patients or for the 1 week before vitrectomy in PDR patients. Primary outcome measures included changes from baseline in BCVA, central foveal thickness (CFT), and mean macular volume (MMV) every 2 weeks for 8 weeks in placebo- (17 patients, 18 eyes) and levosulpiride- (17 patients, 22 eyes) treated DME groups; whereas vitreous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were primary outcomes in PDR patients after placebo (18 patients) or levosulpiride (18 patients). Starting at 4 weeks, levosulpiride improved changes from baseline in BCVA (P &lt; 0.037), CFT (P &lt; 0.013), and MMV (P &lt; 0.002) compared to placebo. At 8 weeks, the proportion of eyes gaining &gt;5 letters (41% vs. 28%), loosing &gt; 21 μm in CFT (55% vs. 28%), and dropping &gt; 0.06 mm3 in MMV (65% vs. 29%) were higher in levosulpiride vs placebo. The overall grading of visual (BCVA) and structural parameters (CFT, MMV, OCT macula image, fundoscopy, and fluorescein angiography) showed improvement with levosulpiride (P = 0.029). Levosulpiride reduced VEGF (P = 0.025) and PlGF (P= 0.008) levels in the vitreous of PDR patients. There were no apparent adverse side-effects. In conclusion, oral levosulpiride administration for 8 weeks improved visual and structural outcomes in patients with center involving DME by mechanisms that may include intraocular upregulation of vasoinhibin and downregulation of VEGF and PlGF. Larger clinical trials evaluating long-term efficacy and safety are warranted.

Reference: (1) Núñez-Amaro et al., Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2020 Aug 17;9(9):27. (2) www.clinicaltrials.gov, ID: NCT03161652; Supported by UNAM grant 405PC.

Presentation: Sunday, June 18, 2023