Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is caused by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which occurs when the choroidal new capillaries reach the RPE layer and photoreceptor cell layer through the ruptured Bruch membrane, leading to neovascularization bleeding, leakage, and scarring. In view of the important role of VEGF in the development of CNV, targeted therapy with various intraocular anti-VEGF drugs is the first-line treatment for wAMD. However, the efficacy of anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of wAMD is affected by a variety of factors, and some patients still have problems such as unresponsiveness, drug resistence, tachyphylaxis, long-term repeated injections, and severe adverse effects. It is the direction of future researches to deeply explore the physiological and pathological process of wAMD, find the cause of CNV formation, and seek better therapies.
Objective To study and compare the clinical efficacy between intravitreal conbercept injection and (or) macular grid pattern photocoagulation in treating macular edema secondary to non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods Ninety eyes of 90 patients diagnosed as macular edema secondary to non-ischemic BRVO were enrolled in this study. Forty-eight patients (48 eyes) were male and 42 patients (42 eyes) were female. The average age was (51.25±12.24) years and the course was 5–17 days. All patients were given best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, slit lamp with preset lens, fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA) and optic coherent tomography (OCT) examination. The patients were divided into conbercept and laser group (group Ⅰ), laser group (group Ⅱ) and conbercept group (group Ⅲ), with 30 eyes in each group. The BCVA and central macular thickness (CMT) in the three groups at baseline were statistically no difference (F=0.072, 0.286;P=0.930, 0.752). Patients in group Ⅰ received intravitreal injection of 0.05 ml of 10.00 mg/ml conbercept solution (conbercept 0.5 mg), and macular grid pattern photocoagulation 3 days later. Group Ⅱ patients were given macular grid pattern photocoagulation. Times of injection between group Ⅰ and Ⅲ, laser energy between group Ⅰ and Ⅱ, changes of BCVA and CMT among 3 groups at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment were compared. Results Patients in group Ⅰ and Ⅲ had received conbercept injections (1.20±0.41) and (2.23±1.04) times respectively, and 6 eyes (group Ⅰ) and 22 eyes (group Ⅲ) received 2-4 times re-injections. The difference of injection times between two groups was significant (P＜0.001). Patients in group Ⅱ had received photocoagulation (1.43±0.63) times, 9 eyes had received twice photocoagulation and 2 eyes had received 3 times of photocoagulation. The average laser energy was (96.05±2.34) μV in group Ⅰ and (117.41±6.85) μV in group Ⅱ, the difference was statistical significant (P=0.003). BCVA improved in all three groups at last follow-up. However, the final visual acuity in group Ⅰ and group Ⅲ were better than in group Ⅱ (t=4.607, –4.603;P＜0.001) and there is no statistical significant difference between group Ⅲ and group Ⅰ (t=–0.802,P=0.429). The mean CMT reduced in all three groups after treating for 1 week and 1 month, comparing that before treatment (t=–11.855, –10.620, –10.254;P＜0.001). There was no statistical difference of CMT between group Ⅰand Ⅲ at each follow up (t=0.404, 1.723, –1.819, –1.755;P=0.689, 0.096, 0.079, 0.900). CMT reduction in group Ⅰ was more than that in group Ⅱ at 1 week and 1 month after treatments (t=–4.621, –3.230;P＜0.001, 0.003). The CMT in group Ⅲ at 3 month after treatment had increased slightly comparing that at 1 month, but the difference was not statistically significant (t=1.995,P=0.056). All patients had no treatment-related complications, such as endophthalmitis, rubeosis iridis and retinal detachment. Conclusions Intravitreal conbercept injection combined with macular grid pattern photocoagulation is better than macular grid pattern photocoagulation alone in treating macular edema secondary to non-ischemic BRVO. Combined therapy also reduced injection times comparing to treatment using conbercept injection without laser photocoagulation.
Diabetic macular ischemia (DMI) is one of the manifestation of diabetic retinopathy (DR). It could be associated with diabetic macular edema (DME), which may affect the vision of DR patients. FFA is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DMI, but with the advent of OCT angiography, a more convenient and diversified method for the evaluation of DMI has been developed, which makes more and more researchers start to study DMI. Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF has become the preferred treatment for DME. When treating with DME patients, ophthalmologists usually avoid DMI patients. But if intravitreal anti-VEGF should be the contradiction of DME is still unclear. To provide references to the research, this article summarized the risk factors, assessment methods and influence of DMI. This article also analyzed the existing studies, aiming to offer evidences to a more reasonable and effective treatment decision for DME individual.
Objective To observe the baseline characteristics and visual outcomes after two years follow-up of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients treated with ranibizumb. Methods Forty-four eyes of 44 patients with exudative AMD were enrolled into this retrospective study, 19 were men and 25 were women. The mean age was 78 years (range 64 – 92 years). All patients were underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study), fundus color photography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The mean BCVA was (50.36±14.43) letters, the mean central foveal thickness (CFT) was (291.95±82.19) μm, and the fluorescence leakage area of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was (7.61±5.84) mm2. All patients received three initial intravitreous injection of ranibizumb (IVR) and were retreated with monthly IVR when needed. The mean follow up time was 25.6 months (range 24 – 29 months). On 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after treatment, BCVA and OCT were repeated. On 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after treatment, FFA and ICGA were repeated. The change of BCVA, CFT and fluorescence leakage area of CNV were observed. The association of baseline characteristics and two year visual outcomes were analyzed. Results On 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after treatment, the BCVA were improved significantly (t= −1.89, −3.51, −4.61, −4.04, −5.77, −4.69;P＜0.05), the CFT were decreased significantly (t=1.51, 2.30, 3.40, 3.28, 3.54, 3.88, 3.73;P＜0.05). On 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after treatment, the fluorescence leakage area of CNV were reduced significantly (t=2.12, 2.90, 3.51, 4.12, 4.06;P＜0.05). The lower baseline BCVA, the more improved after treatment. The BCVA improvement degree has a negative relationship with baseline BCVA and fluorescence leakage area of CNV (r=0.505, −0.550;P＜0.05), but no correlation with baseline CFT (r=0.210,P＞0.05). Conclusion Two year visual outcomes of exudative AMD patients treated with ranibizumb is negative correlated with baseline BCVA and fluorescence leakage area of CNV, but not correlated with baseline CFT.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macular blood flow density in patients of macular telangiectasis type 1 (Mac-Tel type 1) with macular edema before and after the treatment of anti-VEGF.MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2016 to December 2017, 14 Mac-Tel type 1 patients (14 eyes) diagnosed in Nanjing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. There were 6 males (6 eyes) and 8 females (8 eyes), with the mean age of 35.3±9.3 years. All patients underwent BCVA and OCT angiography examinations. The BCVA examination was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart, which was converted into logMAR visual acuity. All the patients were received anti-VEGF injection treatment once a month for 3 consecutive months. The OCTA scanning region in the macular area was 3 mm × 3 mm. Macular blood flow density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), the vessel density within a 300 μm width ring surrounding the foveal avascular area (FD-300) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured in all eyes. Paired samples t-test and Pearson correlation analysis were used in this study.ResultsAt the baseline, logMAR BCVA was 0.69±0.07, CMT was 468.43±26.59 μm, SCP blood flow density was (50.99±1.19)%, DCP blood flow density was (43.79±1.44)%, FD-300 was (50.73±1.16)%. Compared with the baseline, there were significant differences between logMAR BCVA, CMT, DCP blood flow density and FD-300 in 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after treatment and 2 months after cessation of treatment (logMAR BCVA: t=6.77, 13.30, 16.99, 9.51; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.01. CMT: t=6.99, 15.88, 26.10, 6.50; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.00. DCP: t=6.75, 8.61, 15.12, 7.63; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.00. FD-300: t=11.86, 13.08, 14.36, 4.41; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.03). There was no significant difference in blood flow density of SCP between baseline and 2 months after cessation of treatment (t=1.36, P=0.19), but there was significant difference at the other time points after treatment (t=5.50, 6.84, 6.27; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01). The Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between FD-300 and CMT (r2=0.54, P=0.04).ConclusionsThere is no significant change in the SCP blood flow density in the patients of Mac-Tel type 1 with macular edema, while the DCP blood flow density decreased and FD-300 increased. After anti-VEGF treatment, DCP blood flow density increased and FD-300 decreased. FD-300 is positively correlated with CMT.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of prolonged photodynamic therapy (PDT) irradiation time combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in the treatment of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH).MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From March 2012 to March 2018, 51 eyes of 51 patients diagnosed in Shenzhen Eye Hospital were included in the study. Among the patients, the tumor of 36 eyes were located in macular area, of 15 eyes were located outside macular area (near center or around optic disc). All patients underwent BCVA, color fundus photography, FFA, ocular B-scan ultrasonography and OCT examinations. The BCVA examination was performed using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted into logMAR visual acuity. OCT showed 48 eyes with macular serous retinal detachment. of 36 eyes with tumor located in macular area, the logMAR BCVA was 0.05±0.05, the tumor thickness was 4.5±2.2 mm, the diameter of tumor was 9.7±3.6 mm. Of 15 eyes with tumor located outside macular area, the logMAR BCVA was 0.32±0.15, the tumor thickness was 3.8±1.4 mm, the diameter of tumor was 7.7±1.9 mm. PDT was performed for all eyes with the irradiation time of 123 s. After 48 h, all patients received intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab (0.05 ml). At 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment, the same equipment and methods before treatment were used for related examination. BCVA, subretinal effusion (SRF), tumor leakage and size changes were observed. BCVA, tumor thickness and diameter before and after treatment were compared by t test.ResultsAt 6 months after treatment, the tumor was becoming smaller without scar formation. FFA showed that the blood vessels in the tumor were sparse compared with those before treatment, and the fluorescence leakage domain was reduced. OCT showed 43 eyes of macular serous detachment were treated after the combined treatment. The logMAR BCVA were 0.16±0.15 and 0.55±0.21 of the eyes with tumor located in or outside macular area, respectively. The difference of logMAR BCVA between before and after treatment was significant (t=－2.511, －2.676; P=0.036, 0.040). Both the tumor thickness (t=3.416, 3.055; P=0.011, 0.028) and diameter (t=4.385, 4.171; P=0.002, 0.009) of CCH patients were significantly reduced compared with that before treatment.ConclusionThe tumor of CCH can be reduced by prolonged PDT irradiation time combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for serous pigment epithelial detachment (sPED) secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration(eAMD). MethodsTwenty-three eyes from 23 patients of eAMD with sPED were enrolled in this study. The best corrected visual acuity, ocular coherence tomography (OCT), maximum PED height from baseline, volume of PED and central fovea thickness(CFT)were collected monthly for these patients. And the patients were receiced intravitreal injection with ranibizumab of 0.5 mg of three consecutive monthly injections. ResultsNo complications were observed during the study period. After 6 months follow-up, 17 eyes improved, 4 eyes unchanged and only 2 eye decreased. The best corrected visual acuity was from 0.77±0.39 up to 0.61±0.27(t=2.601, P < 0.05). It was observed by OCT that the PED height was decreased from (357.2±171.9)μm (before treatment) to (247.7±171.7)μm (after treatment) (t=3.192, P < 0.05) and the volume of PED was decreased from(0.741±1.012) mm3 to (0.337±0.498) mm3 (t=2.502, P < 0.05). The central foveal thickness was decreased from (317.9±73.8)μm to (302.5±89.3)μm, but the difference were no statistically significantly (t=0.887, P > 0.05). ConclusionRanibizumab may be an effective treatment for improving vision and reducing the degree of PED in eAMD patients.
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs, including monoclonal antibodies (such as bevacizumab and ranibizumab) and fusion protein agents (such as aflibercept and conbercept) have been clinically proven to be effective to treat exudative age-related macular degeneration AMD). However, there are still some patients do not or poorly respond to the initial anti-VEGF agents, usually after several injections, ophthalmologists may switch to another anti-VEGF agent. In general, switching of anti-VEGF agent is considered for recurrent AMD, AMD resistance to anti-VEGF treatments. Current switching protocols include the replacement of monoclonal antibodies with fusion protein agents, the replacement of fusion protein agents with monoclonal antibodies, the substitution of one monoclonal antibody with another one, and the replacement of monoclonal antibodies with fusion protein agents and switching back with monoclonal antibodies. However, current researches on the switching of anti-VEGF drugs for exudative AMD are mostly retrospective and single-arm studies, and there are some differences in the results of different studies. Therefore, for patients with exudative AMD who do not respond to or respond poorly to anti-VEGF drugs, the efficacy of switching of anti-VEGF drugs is uncertain right now. Switching of anti-VEGF agents may improve the retinal anatomical outcome of the affected eye but may not necessarily improve visual acuity. Thus it is an option in the clinical practice to treat AMD. To determine the benefits of above mentioned switching regimens, randomized controlled clinical trials with large sample number and long study period will be needed.
ObjectiveTo analyze the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in aqueous humor of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) before and after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. MethodsTwenty-five eyes of 20 PDR patients were collected as the PDR group. Twenty-five eyes of 21 senile cataract patients were collected as the control group. There were no statistical significance in gender (χ2=0.223), age (Z=-1.555) and intraocular pressure (Z=-0.225) between the two groups (P > 0.05). Samples of aqueous humor (0.1 ml) were collected just before and 7 days after the injection of ranibizumab in PDR group. Samples of aqueous (0.1 ml) humor were collected just before cataract surgery in control group. The concentrations of VEGF and PEDF in the aqueous humor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsThe VEGF and PEDF concentration in the aqueous humor were reduced significantly after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group (Z=-4.072, -4.319; P < 0.05). The concentrations of VEGF and PEDF in the aqueous humor before intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group were significantly higher than the control group (Z=-5.228, 4.706; P < 0.05). The VEGF concentration in the aqueous humor after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group were similar to control group (Z=-1.557, P > 0.05). However, the concentration of PEDF in the aqueous humor after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group still higher than control group (Z=-2.475, P < 0.05). The ratio of VEGF/PEDF before and after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab was statistically different (Z=-2.058, P < 0.05), but was the same between PDR group and control group (Z=-0.456, -0.844; P > 0.05). The aqueous humor concentrations of VEGF and PEDF were not significantly correlated with each other, neither in PDR group (r=-0.195, -0.174; P > 0.05) nor in control group (r=-0.286, P > 0.05). ConclusionsAqueous humor concentrations of VEGF and PEDF are significantly elevated in eyes with PDR. Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab significantly decreased the VEGF and PEDF in the aqueous humor after 7 days.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of 27G micro-incision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with early intervention failure.MethodsRetrospective case series was performed. Fourteen eyes (11 infants) with ROP who underwent 27G MIVS combined with IVR were included from March 2016 to January 2018 in Shenzhen Eye Hospital. Among them, there were 5 males with 7 eyes, 6 females with 7 eyes. The average gestational age of the infants was 28.12±0.90 weeks; the average birth weight was 1 023.64±200.96 g. Before the early clinical intervention, 1 infant (2 eyes) had ROP in zone Ⅰstage 3 with plus disease, 8 infants (10 eyes) had ROP in zone Ⅱ stage 3 with plus disease, and 2 infants had ROP in aggressive posterior ROP. Six eyes underwent laser photocoagulation, while 8 eyes received laser therapy combined with IVR. Six eyes of stage 4A ROP and 8 eyes in stage 4B. Retinal detachment was detected with a mean of 10.44±9.21 weeks. At the time of surgery, the average post-conceptional age was 48.02±8.09 weeks. All the affected eyes were treated with standard sclera with three incisions 27G MIVS. During the operation, only local vitrectomy was performed to release and clear fibroascular proliferation in the optic disc, anterior macular area and pericristal area. After surgery, 10 mg/ml of ranibizumab 0.03 ml was injected into the vitreous cavity. The average follow-up time was 23.36±8.34 months. The primary objectives were the condition of retinal reset, ROP progression control and complications.ResultsAll patients had uneventful surgeries with an average duration of 32.86±9.35 mins. Of the 14 eyes, 12 eyes (85.71%) were controlled, 8 eyes (57.14%) had a good rearrangement of macular structure, while 4 eyes with macular traction. Two eyes had ROP progression, recurrence of retinal detachment, posterior synechia. Complicated cataract was in 1 eye. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy and retinal detachment was in 1 eye after 7 months the operation.Conclusion27G MIVS combined with IVR is a safe and effective treatment for ROP with early clinical intervention failure.