Research News

New treatment for AMD being tested at Eye Center

Occulogix Inc. has contracted with Lawrence Ulanski, MD, assistant professor and member of the Vitreoretinal Service, to participate in a clinical trial of a newly developed blood filtration procedure used in the treatment of the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) called rheopheresis. The trial is called Long Term Efficacy in AMD of Rheophoresis in North America.

There are two forms of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD. The dry form, in which the cells of the macula slowly begin to break down, is diagnosed in 85 percent of macular degeneration cases. As the dry form worsens, some people begin to have abnormal blood vessels growing behind the macula. These vessels are very fragile and will leak fluid and blood – hence “wet” macular degeneration – causing rapid damage to the macula.

The rheopheresis procedure, patented by Occulogix as RHEO™, uses a new filtering technology to remove excess levels of macro-proteins and fatty components from the blood that have been associated with AMD. Rheopheresis comes from a well known form of therapy called apheresis – a procedure in which blood from a patient is circulated through a system, separated into its components, and filtered for particular materials that are associated with a disease. Apheresis has been used for a variety of illnesses for decades. Clinical studies suggest that blood that has had the macro-proteins and fatty components filtered out flows more easily through even the tiniest capillaries in the body, including those of the eye. Researchers believe that the improved microcirculation more effectively supplies the macular cells with oxygen and nutrients needed for proper function.

Approximately 15 million people in the United States suffer from AMD, most of whom are 65 years of age and older. It is primarily a disease of the elderly. Dr. Ulanski, who completed ophthalmology fellowships in uveitis, ocular oncology and vitreo-retinal surgery, joined the Department in 2004. He has an MD from the University of Michigan Medical School, and he completed his residency in ophthalmology at the William Beaumont Eye Institute in Michigan .

To join the study or refer a patient, call 312-996-4747.