Topical ranibizumab as a treatment of corneal neovascularization.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To examine the effect of topical ranibizumab on clinically stable corneal neovascularization (NV).

METHODS:

This was a prospective, open-label, monocentric, uncontrolled noncomparative study. Ten eyes of 9 patients with corneal NV received topical ranibizumab (1%) 4 times a day for 3 weeks with a follow-up period of 16 weeks. The main corneal NV outcome measures were: neovascular area, the area occupied by the corneal neovessels; vessel caliber (VC), the mean diameter of the corneal neovessels; and invasion area (IA), the fraction of the total cornea area covered by the vessels. This study was conducted at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA.

RESULTS:

Statistically significant decreases in neovascular area (55.3%, P < 0.001), which lasted through 16 weeks, and VC (59%, P < 0.001), which continued to improve up to week 16, were observed after treatment. No significant decrease was observed in IA (12.3%, P = 0.49). There was no statistically significant change in visual acuity or intraocular pressure. No adverse events ascribed to the treatment were noted.

CONCLUSIONS:

Topical application of ranibizumab is effective in reducing the severity of corneal NV in the context of established corneal NV, mostly through decrease in VC rather than IA.

• Authors: Giulio Ferrari, Mohammad H Dastjerdi, Andre Okanobo, Sheng-Fu Cheng, Francisco Amparo, Nambi Nallasamy, Reza Dana
• Journal: Cornea (Cornea) Vol. 32 Issue 7 Pg. 992-7 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1536-4798 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23407316 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Ranibizumab

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Aged
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (administration & dosage)
• Blood Vessels (drug effects, pathology)
• Cornea (blood supply)
• Corneal Neovascularization (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Intraocular Pressure (physiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Prospective Studies
• Ranibizumab
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Visual Acuity (physiology)