Abstract | PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of individualized repeated intravitreal injections of ranibizumab ( Lucentis) on visual acuity and central foveal thickness in patients with choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) associated with various ocular inflammatory clinical entities. METHODS: RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 70.4 ± 24 weeks (17.6 months; range, 44-116 weeks [11-29 months]). The mean number of injections performed was 2.3, and the mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 55 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.9 ± 0.4 [mean ± SD]) at baseline to 70.3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.6 ± 0.4) at the end of the follow-up, a statistically significant change compared with baseline (P < 0.0001). The mean letter gain was 15.3 letters, and best-corrected visual acuity improved in 14 of 16 patients (88%) and remained stable in 2 patients (12.5%) without any patient demonstrating deterioration. The mean central foveal thickness (although not excessively increased at baseline) improved from 285 ± 20 μm at baseline to 233 ± 21 μm (statistically significant compared with baseline, P < 0.0001) at the end of the follow-up. At the end of the follow-up, all patients demonstrated CNV regression, and retinal pigment epithelial atrophy surrounding the regressed CNV was developed in 11 of the 16 eyes (68.8%). During the same period, no CNV recurrence was observed and no injection-related complications such as cataract, retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, or exacerbation of uveitis were noted. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings suggest that intravitreal injections of ranibizumab have shown promising results in visual acuity improvement and a decrease in macular thickness in patients with inflammatory CNV. Of course, further studies are needed to confirm the exact benefit and standardize the optimal treatment regimen.
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Authors | Alexander Rouvas, Petros Petrou, Maria Douvali, Amalia Ntouraki, Ioannis Vergados, Ilias Georgalas, Nikolaos Markomichelakis |
Journal | Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
(Retina)
Vol. 31
Issue 5
Pg. 871-9
(May 2011)
ISSN: 1539-2864 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 21358461
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Ranibizumab
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Topics |
- Adult
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors
(administration & dosage)
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
(administration & dosage)
- Choroidal Neovascularization
(diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
- Choroiditis
(diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
- Female
- Fluorescein Angiography
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Intravitreal Injections
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Ranibizumab
- Retreatment
- Retrospective Studies
- Tomography, Optical Coherence
- Treatment Outcome
- Visual Acuity
(physiology)
- Young Adult
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