IMPROVE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
IMPROVE: IMmune PROfiling of patients with non-infectious uVEitis treated with systemic immunosuppression
IRAS ID
347490
Contact name
Eleftherios Agorogiannis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Intraocular inflammation (or uveitis) has the potential to induce sight-threatening complications and is etiologically divided into infectious and non-infectious uveitis. Sustained control of ocular inflammation with systemic immunosuppressive agents is required for prevention of irreversible visual loss in severe chronic non-infectious uveitis. Currently available therapeutic options are associated with significant adverse effects (including susceptibility to infection or cancer). Minimisation of unwanted drug-induced effects can be achieved via careful selection of patients who would benefit from treatment and avoidance of unnecessarily long duration of systemic immunosuppression. Although disease severity and phenotype can inform the decision for treatment initiation, firm evidence to support optimal discontinuation protocols is currently lacking.
We aim to characterise peripheral blood immune cell populations in patients with a flare of non-infectious uveitis before and after systemic immunosuppressive treatment. The primary objective is to establish whether systemic immunosuppression alters the relative composition of immune cell phenotypes within the peripheral blood mononuclear cell compartment. A secondary objective is to identify whether certain immunosuppressive agents are associated with distinct effects on peripheral blood immune profiles. Obtaining this information has the potential to aid in the identification of biomarkers which may:
(1) Predict the need for systemic immunosuppressive treatment in patients with non-infectious uveitis,
(2) Tailor immunosuppressive treatment to specific peripheral blood immune profiles, and
(3) Identify individuals who have adequately been treated and could safely consider treatment discontinuation.All patients with non-infectious uveitis above 18 years old and able to provide informed consent will be eligible to enrol in the study. The study will take place at Manchester Uveitis Clinic (part of Manchester Royal Eye Hospital), a tertiary referral service. The expected duration of the study is 12 months. The patients will receive standard care, and will be asked to donate a blood sample before and after initiation/escalation of immunosuppressive treatment.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0035
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion