PEMF: an Adjunct Therapy for Anterior Uveitis (PEMF)
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01154010 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : June 30, 2010
Results First Posted : May 4, 2017
Last Update Posted : February 28, 2018
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Anterior Uveitis Iritis | Device: PEMF Device: PEMF Placebo | Not Applicable |
Iritis is an inflammatory disease focused in the anterior chamber of the eye. The inflammation inside the eye can lead to a number of conditions that ultimately effect vision. These can include glaucoma, posterior synechiae, cystoid macular edema, and cataract. The standard treatment for the disease is drug therapy centered around the administration of corticosteroids. These are administered in the form of eye drops, and if necessary periocular/intraocular injections, or/and by systemic oral/IV administration. Unfortunately, the treatment with corticosteroids can similarly induce severe side effects including glaucoma and cataract formation. ActiPatch is a medical device that emits a low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field. This device has been shown to reduce inflammation and pain in a number of conditions, eg blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). ActiPatch is FDA approved for use after blepharoplasty to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain. The treatment is not invasive, does not require additional medication, and side effects from ActiPatch and other PEMF devices have not been reported. The potential benefit of treating uveitis with ActiPatch is the potential to reduce the time and/or amount of steroid administration. This would benefit patients by reducing the risk of unwanted side effects of the corticosteroid treatment.
The benefit to society would be an improved treatment for anterior uveitis.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 18 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Supportive Care |
Official Title: | PEMF an Adjunct Therapy for Anterior Uveitis |
Study Start Date : | August 2009 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | April 2015 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | April 2015 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Active Device
ActiPatch, a device that emits a low frequency energy called "pulsed electromagnetic field" (PEMF), will be worn by patients over the eye with anterior uveitis for 8 hours/day for 7 days. Patients will also be treated with topical steroids.
|
Device: PEMF
ActiPatch will be worn by patients over the eye with anterior uveitis for 8 hours/day for 7 days. Patients will also be treated with topical steroids. |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Device
Patients wear the PEMF placebo device for 8 hours/day for 7 days over the eye being treated for anterior uveitis. Patients will also be treated with topical steroids.
|
Device: PEMF Placebo
Patients wear the placebo device for 8 hours/day for 7 days over the eye being treated for anterior uveitis. Patients will also be treated with topical steroids. |
- Inflammation Grade at Day 7 [ Time Frame: 7 days ]Degree and grade of ocular inflammation based on Standard Uveitis Nomenclature will be assessed at initial visit, Day 3, and Day 7 of use of the PEMF device to assess if the PEMF device decreases the duration and severity of ocular inflammation when used as an adjunctive therapy for anterior uveitis. The results posted here are from day 7. The Standard Uveitis Nomenclature scale ranges from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating a minimal level of ocular inflammation and 4 indicating the maximal level of corneal inflammation.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Human subjects who have been clinically diagnosed with anterior uveitis (iritis) but are in otherwise in good health will be recruited for the study. The age requirement will be a minimum of 18 yrs. We will recruit 24 patient for this study. Subjects will only be included who have been clinically diagnosed with anterior uveitis (noninfectious). Eligibility will be determined by the treating Ophthalmologist (principal investigator) for inclusion in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Vulnerable subjects, as defined by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), will not be recruited for participation (This includes individuals under 18, pregnant women, prisoners, fetuses, patients mentally or physically unable to provide written informed consent).
- Other groups excluded include: patients with pacemakers and patients with ferromagnetic metal implants since these devices may be effected by the pulsed electromagnetic field.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01154010
United States, Massachusetts | |
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114 |
Principal Investigator: | George Papaliodis, MD | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary |
Responsible Party: | George Papaliodis, Director, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01154010 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
09-03-020 |
First Posted: | June 30, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | May 4, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | February 28, 2018 |
Last Verified: | January 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | A forthcoming article will include a chart that will document individual participant data. |
PEMF iritis anterior uveitis |
Uveitis Uveitis, Anterior Iridocyclitis Iritis |
Uveal Diseases Eye Diseases Panuveitis Iris Diseases |