Objective To evaluate the single-use of laser photocoagulation (LP) and the combined-use of laser photocoagulation plus intravitreal triamcinolone (LP+IVTA) for diabetic macular edema (DME) in terms of clinical therapeutic effect and safety. Methods Such databases as The Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang Data were searched from the date of their establishment to September 2011, and the references of all included studies were also traced, so as to identify the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on LP vs. LP+IVTA for DME. The quality assessment and data extraction were conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook 5.0 by two reviewers independently, and then Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results Ten RCTs involving 525 ill eyes were included, and all of them were classified as Grade B in methodological quality. Results of meta-analysis showed that: at the end of follow-up, there were significant differences between the LP+IVTA group and the LP group in the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (RR=–0.14, 95%CI –0.20 to –0.08, Plt;0.000 01), and the central macular thickness (CMT) (RR=–56.78, 95%CI –84.03 to –29.54, Plt;0.000 1). In comparison with the LP group, there were more people in the LP+IVTA group who needed to be treated for their elevated intraocular pressure and to have surgery for the progression of cataract. But no significant difference was found between the two groups in vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, retinal vein occlusion and macular epiretinal membrane. Conclusion Current evidence of clinical research shows that the LP+IVTA is superior to LP in reducing macular edema and improving vision in the treatment of diabetic macular edema, but it may also result in a high incidence of elevated intraocular pressure and cataract. Because the methodological quality limitation of included studies may affect the authenticity of outcomes, this conclusion has to be further proved by more high-quality and large-scale clinical trials.
ObjectiveTo observe the safety of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) combined with partial anterior pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for cataract with severe vitreous hemorrhage.MethodsA retrospective case-control study. A total of 60 patients (60 eyes) with cataract and severe vitreous hemorrhage were included from June 2017 to June 2019 in Xi’an People’s Hospital (Xi’an Fourth Hospital). There were 32 males (32 eyes) and 28 females (28 eyes), with a mean age of 64.8 years. The eyes were randomly divided into intravitreal injection TA group (TA group) and non-TA injection group (control group), with 30 eyes in each group. Before phacoemulsification, 0.05-0.10 ml TA was injected into the vitreous cavity in the TA group and the vitreous besides the vitrectomy channel was removed. The eyes of the control group underwent conventional cataract phacoemulsification combined with PPV. The follow-up time after surgery was ≥6 months. The rate of success continuous circular capsulorhexis, posterior capsule rupture, and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the capsular bag were compared between the two groups. The statistical data were compared with χ2 test. ResultsFor all eyes in the TA group, after intravitreal injection of TA combined with partial anterior PPV, the white reflection of the fundus can clearly show the anterior and posterior capsule of the lens. Continuous circular capsulorhexis was completed, the posterior capsule was not broken, and the IOL was successfully implanted inside the capsular bag. Among the 30 eyes of the control group, 4 eyes did not complete continuous circular capsulorhexis. Radial tear occurred during capsulorhexis, and capsulorhexis was used to complete capsulorhexis. In 5 eyes with posterior capsule rupture, the posterior capsule occurred in 3 eyes during phacoemulsification, and injecting the lens cortex caused posterior capsule repture in 2 eyes; the IOL was implanted in the ciliary sulcus and the capsular bag in 4 and 1 eyes, respectively. Whether the consecutive capsulorhexis was successful (χ2=4.286), whether the posterior capsule was ruptured (χ2=5.455), whether the IOL was implanted in the capsular bag (χ2=4.286), the differences in the number of eyes between the two groups were statistically significant (P= 0.038, 0.020, 0.038). At the last follow-up, no special complications occurred.ConclusionsIntravitreal injection of TA combined with partial anterior PPV can improve the visibility of the anterior and posterior lens capsule and lens nucleus during phacoemulsification in patients with cataract and severe vitreous hemorrhage. The surgical success rate is high, the complications are few, and the safety is good.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of local triamcinolone combined with conventional interventional therapy in the treatment of benign airway stenosis. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of science, wanfang, VIP and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched by computer between the establishment of the database and August, 2019, and all literatures on the local treatment of benign airway stenosis using triamcinolone combined with conventional interventional therapy were searched. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2 researchers screened the literatures and performed the data extraction and methodological quality evaluation. Meta-analysis was performed with Revman5.2 and Stata software. Results In total, nine randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis, including 449 patients with airway stenosis. The total result showed that in the comparison of short-term efficacy, there were no statistically significant differences in breathability score (SMD=–0.16, 95%CI –0.45 - 0.13, P=0.27), airway diameter (SMD=0.14, 95%CI –0.13 - 0.41, P=0.30), and cross-sectional stenosis rate (SMD=–0.01, 95%CI –0.36 - 0.34, P=0.96) between the treatment group and the control group. In the comparison of long-term efficacy, the breathability score (SMD=–2.53, 95%CI –3.78 - –1.28, P<0.05), airway diameter (SMD=1.31, 95%CI 0.83 - 1.78, P<0.05), cross-sectional stenosis rate (SMD=2.58, 95%CI: 2.11~3.08, P<0.05), and FEV1(SMD=0.42, 95%CI 0.13 - 0.70, P=0.004) of patients in the treatment group were all better than those in the control group. But in terms of adverse reactions, the incidence of bleeding in the airway between two groups was similar (RR=2.00, 95%CI 0.88 - 4.52, P=0.10), other adverse reactions such as blood glucose and plasma cortisol levels were mild, which can be relieved symptomatically. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that topical triamcinolone combined with conventional interventional therapy for benign airway stenosis has a better long-term clinical efficacy with fewer adverse reactions and better overall patient tolerance, which has clinical application value
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most threatening complication of diabetic retinopathy that affects visual function, which is characterized by intractability and recurrent attacks. Currently, the clinical routine treatments for DME mainly include intravitreal injection, grid laser photocoagulation in the macular area, subthreshold micropulse laser, periocular corticosteroid injection, and vitrectomy. Although conventional treatments are effective for some patients, persistent, refractory, and recurrent DME remains a clinical challenge that needs to be urgently addressed. In recent years, clinical studies have found that certain combination therapies are superior to monotherapy, which can not only restore the anatomical structure of the macular area and effectively reduce macular edema but also improve visual function to some extent while reducing the number of treatments and the overall cost. This makes up for the shortcomings of single treatment modalities and is highly anticipated in the clinical setting. However, the application of combination therapy in clinical practice is relatively short, and its safety and long-term effectiveness need further exploration. Currently, new drugs, new formulations, and new therapeutic targets are still under research and development to address different mechanisms of DME occurrence and development, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents designed to anchor repetitive sequence proteins with stronger inhibition of vascular leakage, multiple growth factor inhibitors, anti-inflammatory agents, and stem cell therapy. With the continuous improvement of the combination application of existing drugs and treatments and the development of new drugs and treatment technologies, personalized treatment for DME will become possible.