Retinal pigment epithelial tears in ranibizumab-treated eyes.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To report the incidence of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears in patients treated with ranibizumab therapy for choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration.

DESIGN:

: Interventional case series.

METHODS:

One hundred sixty-four eyes from a large clinical practice were retrospectively reviewed for number of injections and the presence or absence of a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment. Main outcome measures were occurrence of RPE tears, and timing of tears following the last injection.

RESULTS:

Patients were observed for an average of 11 months. A single patient (0.61%) experienced an RPE tear and this occurred after the first injection. In eyes with a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment the incidence was 5%. Lesions containing a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment tended to be larger (4.5 versus 3.8 Macular Photocoagulation Study Disc Areas), but this was not statistically significant. (P = 0.63). However, these lesions required more injections on average (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The incidence of RPE tears associated with ranibizumab therapy is low and may result from a predisposition rather than an effect of treatment. Even so, patients undergoing ranibizumab therapy should be counseled regarding this possible complication.

• Authors: Bradley T Smith, Courtney L Kraus, Rajendra S Apte
• Journal: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Retina) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 335-9 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 1539-2864 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19174716 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Ranibizumab

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Choroidal Neovascularization (drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Female
• Fluorescein Angiography
• Follow-Up Studies
• Fundus Oculi
• Humans
• Incidence
• Injections
• Macular Degeneration (complications, drug therapy, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ranibizumab
• Retinal Perforations (chemically induced, epidemiology, pathology)
• Retinal Pigment Epithelium (drug effects, pathology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Time Factors
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• United States (epidemiology)
• Vitreous Body