Aerosolized, Gas-Phase, Intravitreal Methotrexate Reduces Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in a Randomized Trial in a Porcine Model

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of aerosol-delivered methotrexate (AD-MTx) in a large-animal (porcine) model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, interventional, double-masked, controlled, large-animal study with predetermined clinical and histopathologic outcome criteria. CONTROLS: Half of the pigs were randomly assigned to receive an identical volume of aerosol-delivered normal saline (AD-NS) using identical delivery systems and treatment intervals. METHODS: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was surgically induced in 16 pigs (8 males and 8 females), randomly assigned to receive 2 doses (group A) or 3 doses (group B) of either AD-MTx (1.6 mg/0.4 ml) or normal saline (AD-NS). Group A pigs were euthanized at week 2 (n = 8), and group B pigs were euthanized at week 3 (n = 8). Masked clinical PVR scores (0–6) by a vitreoretinal surgeon and histopathology PVR scores (0–8) by a masked ophthalmic pathologist were used to determine outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The mean, combined clinical and histopathology scores (both anterior and posterior) were used to determine the overall treatment effect between the groups. RESULTS: The mean masked score (± standard deviation) when all grading end points (clinical + histopathology) were combined was a mean of 8.0 ± 2.3 in the AD-MTx group versus a higher 9.9 ± 2.0 in the AD-NS control group (P = 0.05). The clinical score was 3.88 ± 1.2 in the AD-MTx group versus 4.63 ± 1.6 in the AD-NS group (P = 0.16). The histopathology score for anterior PVR was 2.5 ± 0.8 in the AD-MTx group versus 2.5 ± 0.5 in the AD-NS group (P = 0.50), and the posterior PVR was 1.63 ± 1.6 in the AD-MTx group versus 2.75 ± 1.3 in the AD-NS group (P = 0.07). When the frequency of methotrexate dosing in group A (2 doses) was compared with that in group B (3 doses), the mean score was 8.75 versus 9.13 (P = 0.38), respectively, suggesting an insignificant difference. CONCLUSIONS: After surgical induction of PVR in an aggressive, high-risk, large-animal model, AD-MTx reduced posterior PVR formation compared with AD-NS. Additional dosing at week 3 did not improve the outcomes. No difference in anterior PVR formation was noted with intervention. This novel drug delivery system has implications for PVR reduction and warrants further investigation. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.