Dr. Deupree Lectures on Exciting New Macular Degeneration Treatment

Occulogix recently invited Dr. Deupree to speak to 65 eye doctors in Miami about Rheopheresis

Miami, September '04 -- OccuLogix, Inc., an ophthalmic therapeutic company founded in 1996 to commercialize innovative treatments for eye diseases, recently invited Dr. Deupree to Miami to lecture to 65 eye doctors on the importance and rapidly-advancing technology of Rheopheresis. 

Rheopheresis ("Rheo"), a blood filtration technology, utilizes therapeutic apheresis methodology to treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).

Dr. Deupree, one of very few physicians in the United States to be involved in Rheopheresis, was the principal investigator in the FDA clinical trial for Rheo. 

Rheo works by removing excess amounts of certain macro-proteins and fatty components that have been associated with certain diseases, like macular degeneration.  These macro-proteins may be harmful when circulating in a person's blood.

In Rheo, blood is filtered in a closed circuit outside the body using special filters. No blood products or medications (other than Heparin or other blood anti-coagulants are used to prevent clotting in the tubing system) are added.

Results from recent clinical trials suggest that, for the first time, treatment of the most common form of AMD, the so-called "Dry" AMD, may now be possible for many patients.

Since not all patients with AMD may be eligible to receive Rheo, a thorough screening examination, including an eye exam, as well as a series of blood tests is required before undergoing the procedure.

At this time, Rheopheresis is not available in the United States.  It is available in Canada at the time of this writing.  Dr. Deupree is available to evaluate patients for eligibility for Rheopheresis.  However, until Rheo is approved in the U.S., Dr. Deupree is not performing this procedure.

For more information on Rheopherisis, how it works and who qualifies, go to Occulogix website at www.occulogix.com.