Parasitic Ulcer Treatment Trial (PUTT)

 

PUTT LOGO ORANGE

About the Study

  • Acanthamoeba corneal infections are difficult to treat and often require eyedrops for 6–12 months or longer.
  • There is no clear consensus on the best treatment approach.
  • Some doctors believe steroid eyedrops may help reduce inflammation and improve vision, while others worry steroids might prolong the infection.
  • This study aims to find out whether steroid eyedrops are safe and effective when used to treat acanthamoeba infections.

What's Involved

  • Eligibility Criteria

    • Age 8 years or older, except for 16 years or older in the UK
    • Diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) confirmed by lab testing or confocal microscopy
    • Ocular inflammation after 1 month of anti-amoeba treatment

    Cannot join if you have:

    • Herpetic or fungal keratitis
    • Corneal perforation or prior corneal transplant for AK
    • No light perception vision in the affected eye
    • Allergy or hypertensive reaction to corticosteroids
    • Currently taking systemic corticosteroids

    A study doctor will confirm eligibility during screening.

  • Required Visits and Procedures

    • You will use an eyedrop for acanthamoeba for 1 month.
    • After that, if still eligible, you’ll be randomized (like a coin flip) to receive either a steroid eyedrop or a lubricating eyedrop.
    • You’ll take this study eyedrop for 2 months while continuing the anti-amoebic eyedrop.
    • Follow-up visits: 1 month, 6 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.
    • Each visit lasts about 2 hours and includes eye imaging and vision testing.

    Possible Benefits

    • Free anti-amoeba medication (normally not covered by insurance)
    • Access to an effective eyedrop, not yet available in the U.S.
    • Close monitoring with advanced imaging by experienced ophthalmologists
    • Helping future patients by contributing to better treatment research

    Learn More

    📄 View the Patient Information Sheet (PDF) 
    🔗 View study details on ClinicalTrials.gov

    Contact the UCSF Study Team

    Dr. Jeremy Keenan, MD MPH
    UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, Proctor Foundation
    📧 [email protected]
    ☎️ (415) 476-6323

    Dr. Gerami Seitzman, MD
    UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, Proctor Foundation
    📧 [email protected]
    ☎️ (415)-476-1442

  •  

    • For more information, contact your nearest enrollment center or the coordinating center (UCSF).
       

    Enrollment Centers

    US MAP_1w/KEY
    OUTSIDE US MAP

    Site Information

    InstitutionSite InvestigatorsContact InformationCityCountry
    UCSFJeremy Keenan MD, Gerami Seitzman MD

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

    		San FranciscoUSA
    OHSUTravis Redd MD[email protected]PortlandUSA
    UIC

    Elmer Tu MD

    Maria Soledad Cortina MD

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

    		ChicagoUSA
    FloridaSonal Tuli MD

    Study Coordinator: Yemi Ojewale
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 352-733-2091

    		GainesvilleUSA
    PittsburghGaurav Prakash MD[email protected]PittsburghUSA
    University of MiamiGuillermo Amescua MD[email protected]MiamiUSA
    ColumbiaLeejee Suh MD[email protected] & [email protected]New YorkUSA
    PennBennie Jeng MDEmma Iacobucci
    [email protected] 
    215-662-9393    		PhiladelphiaUSA
    JHUNakul Shekhawat MD[email protected]BaltimoreUSA
    IowaMark Greiner MDLisa Leavy
    [email protected] 
    (319) 353-7625    		Iowa CityUSA
    UWMinh Nguyen MD[email protected] 
    206-744-2020    		SeattleUSA
    BaylorAlejandro Arboleda MD[email protected]HoustonUSA
    UNIFESPDenise de Freitas MD[email protected]São PauloBrazil
    AravindN. Venkatesh Prajna MD[email protected]Madurai & CoimbatoreIndia
    MoorfieldsSu-yin Koay MD[email protected]LondonEngland