Intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator to treat macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) injection for branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

DESIGN:

Retrospective, interventional case series.

METHODS:

Seventeen eyes presenting with macular edema caused by BRVO were treated with an intravitreal tPA (Monteplase, 40 k IU) injection. We assessed the visual acuity (VA) and foveal thickness measured with optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS:

The mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 3.6 +/- 3.8 weeks. The mean logMAR VA significantly improved from 0.603 +/- 0.327 at baseline to 0.388 +/- 0.248 (P < .01) at one month and 0.359 +/- 0.319 (P < .05) at six months. The mean foveal thickness significantly decreased from 738 +/- 156 microm at baseline to 454 +/- 213 microm (P < .001) at one month and 253 +/- 164 microm (P < .001) six months.

CONCLUSION:

Intravitreal tPA injection may be an effective treatment for resolving macular edema and improving the VA in BRVO.

• Authors: Tomoaki Murakami, Hitoshi Takagi, Mihori Kita, Hirokazu Nishiwaki, Kazuaki Miyamoto, Hirokazu Ohashi, Daisuke Watanabe, Nagahisa Yoshimura
• Journal: American journal of ophthalmology (Am J Ophthalmol) Vol. 142 Issue 2 Pg. 318-20 (Aug 2006) ISSN: 0002-9394 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16876516 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fibrinolytic Agents
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Topics

• Aged
• Female
• Fibrinolytic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Fovea Centralis (pathology)
• Humans
• Injections
• Macular Edema (drug therapy, etiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retinal Vein Occlusion (complications, drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator (therapeutic use)
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• Visual Acuity
• Vitreous Body