Effect of High-Dose Prednisolone (Solu Dacortin®) Treatment on Choroidal and Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Humans

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Because of their antiinflamatory effects, glucocorticoids are often used to reduce edema in neurologic tissue and to otherwise mitigate the consequences of neural inflammation. For example, high dose prednisolone treatment has been shown to be an effective therapy for different eye diseases including severe Graves´ Ophthalmopathy and acute optic neuritis. However, contradictory results exists for the influence of high dose prednisolone therapy per se on tissue blood flow. Thus, in the current study, we plan to investigate the effect of high dose, short time therapy with intravenous prednisolone in patients with optic neuritis and severe Graves´ Ophthalmopathy.

Official Title
-----------------
Effect of High-Dose Prednisolone (Solu Dacortin®) Treatment on Choroidal and Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Humans

Conditions
-----------------
Regional Blood Flow, Optic Disk

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Drug: Prednisolone


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Men and women aged between 19 and 65 years, nonsmokers Group A: Patients with Graves´ Ophthalmopathy (moderate to severe and active ophthalmopathy; i.e. clinical activity score >3 or =3) suitable for high-dose treatment with prednisolone as assessed by an independent ophthalmologist Group B: Patients with acute onset of optic neuritis suitable for high-dose treatment with prednisolone suitable for high-dose treatment with prednisolone as assessed by the ophthalmologist Normal laboratory values unless the investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant and not to interfere with prednisolone treatment (normal liver blood parameter and hepatitis serology). Ametropy of less than 3 dpt. Exclusion Criteria: Regular use of medication which could interfere with the study objectives, especially treatment with vasoactive drugs Active peptic ulcer or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Hepatitis or elevated hepatic blood parameters Abuse of alcoholic beverages, participation in a clinical trial in the 3 weeks preceding the study Symptoms of a clinically relevant illness in the 3 weeks before the first study day Blood donation during the previous 3 weeks Pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 19 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: Prednisolone|nan|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Non invasive measurement of optic nerve and choroidal blood flow |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Optic nerve head blood flow, Choroidal blood flow, Prednisolone, Graves´ Ophthalmopathy, optic neuritis