June 2021
Volume 62, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2021
A prospective survey assessing patient experiences and understanding of advertised stem cell therapies for retinal disease.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Hailey Robles-Holmes
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Jayanth Sridhar
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Nicolas A. Yannuzzi
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Marissa Patel
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Jodi Hwang
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Hailey Robles-Holmes, None; Jayanth Sridhar, None; Nicolas Yannuzzi, None; Marissa Patel, None; Jodi Hwang, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2021, Vol.62, 164. doi:
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      Hailey Robles-Holmes, Jayanth Sridhar, Nicolas A. Yannuzzi, Marissa Patel, Jodi Hwang; A prospective survey assessing patient experiences and understanding of advertised stem cell therapies for retinal disease.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62(8):164.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Misinformation regarding non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sponsored, largely unproven, stem cell therapies (SCTs) for retinal disease may pose significant risks to patients. A survey was administered to patients with retinal disease to ascertain their baseline knowledge of SCTs.

Methods : A prospective survey was administered to patients presenting to a retina clinic for dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD) or a variant of diagnoses requiring anti-VEGF therapy. Before clinical evaluation, patients completed a survey evaluating their knowledge about SCTs for retinal disease. Demographics, visual acuity (VA), and clinical diagnoses were also recorded. Visual impairment was classified in accordance with guidelines defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Pearson chi-square tests for independence were used for gender and ethnicity comparisons.

Results : There were 58 participants, 31(53.4%) of whom believed there were FDA-approved and commercially available SCTs for retinal disease (95% CI= 39.9%-66.1%). Thirty-eight (65.5%) patients believed all clinical trials found online were regulated by the FDA (95% CI= 51.9%-77.5%). A chi-square test of independence showed no significant association between patient responses and gender. However, Hispanic patients were more likely than non-Hispanic patients to believe there were current FDA approved SCTs commercially available (p =0.048) and to believe that all clinical trials found online are approved by the FDA (p=0.0006). Only 9 (15.8%) respondents were aware of risks associated with non-FDA approved SCTs for retinal disease (95% CI=7.3%-27.4%). Twenty-two (37.9%) respondents said they would consider SCT not approved by the FDA (95% CI=25.5%-51.6%).

Conclusions : Confusion exists regarding the federal regulation of SCTs for retinal disease and Hispanic patients may be a population more vulnerable to misinformation regarding these unapproved therapies.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.

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