Prostaglandin F2-alpha Eye Drops in Thyroid Eye Disease (Bima Study)

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a chronic disfiguring and debilitating disease of the eyes which can lead to sight loss in severe cases. Patients with TED frequently have characteristic eyeball protrusion (proptosis) due to increased fat accumulation behind the eye. The discomfort and changes in appearance of the eyes is a source of severe psychological distress and impaired quality of life in many patients. Current treatments for TED are unsatisfactory and established non-surgical therapies which specifically reduce proptosis are lacking. Reduced eyelid protrusion has recently been reported as a side-effect of the use of prostaglandin analogue eye drops (e.g. Bimatoprost (PGF2-alpha)) in the routine treatment of glaucoma and we have laboratory data showing inhibition of fat cells by Bimatoprost. Hence PGF2-alpha eye drops potentially represent a simple, non-invasive low toxicity topical alternative to surgery in TED. However no clinical trials of Bimatoprost have been conducted in TED to date. The objective of this study is to determine whether Bimatoprost eye drops are effective in reducing proptosis and thus improving quality of life in patients with TED. Trial participants will be recruited from the TED clinic at the University Hospital Wales. The clinic is a regional referral centre for the treatment and study of TED and is run by a multidisciplinary team of ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, and orthoptists with expertise in TED. Following informed consent, participants will be randomised to receive Bimatoprost or placebo eye drops for three months after which they will undergo a two month drug washout period before switching to the opposite treatment in the final three months of study. The primary endpoint is a change in standardised measurements of proptosis while secondary endpoints will include changes in quality of life scores. This study will provide evidence for a novel application of bimatoprost in patients with TED.

Inclusion criteria

• Stable TED with no reported change in proptosis for at least 6 months. See section 4.1.1 for TED definition;
• Clinical activity score <3 (Appendix 1);
• Proptosis (subjective unilateral proptosis confirmed by asymmetry in exophthalmometry of >2mm OR greater than 20 mm on exophthalmometry measurement in one eye);
• Euthyroid (thyroid function tests in the reference range);
• If female, must be using a reliable form of contraception during the trial, e.g. oral contraceptive and condom, intra-uterine device (IUD) and condom, diaphragm with spermicide and condom.

Exclusion criteria

• Age <18 yrs;
• Dysthyroid optic neuropathy unless previously treated;
• Pregnancy or lactation;
• Previous Corneal Herpes Simplex infection;
• On therapy for glaucoma or intraocular hypertension;
• Less than 6 months from prior systemic steroid use;
• Aphakia, pseudophakia with torn posterior lens capsule or anterior chamber lenses;
• Patient with risk factors for cystoid macular oedema, iritis or uveitis;
• Severe Asthma (risk of severe allergic reaction to medication);
• Previous allergy to Bimatoprost or preservative.