The AflibeRcept use in rEal life study for the treatment of diabetiC macular oedema In the French overseas territories: A 12 months follow-up Study - The RECIF Study.

PURPOSE: The incidence and severity of diabetes is particularly high in the French overseas territories (FOT). The RECIF study evaluated real life management of diabetic macular oedema (DME) treated by aflibercept in FOT. METHODS: A prospective, noncomparative, multicentric, non-interventional, study that evaluated functional and anatomical results of patients treated by aflibercept. Twelve retina specialists working in French Polynesia, La Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique participated in the study. RESULTS: 67 eyes of 57 patients were followed for 12 months. Average VA gain was 7.8 ETDRS letters. 29.9% of eyes gained at least 15 letters, 6% lost 15 letters or more. 67.2% of eyes achieved visual acuity of 70 letters or better. Average central retinal thickness decrease was 115.3 µm. The mean number of injections during the 1st year of treatment was 4.9. 69% of eyes had a loading dose of at least three-monthly injections. 3 eyes were switched to steroid injections during the follow-up for lack of efficacy. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the efficacy of intravitreal treatment of DME by aflibercept, in the French overseas territories. This evaluation of real-life management of DME underlines the importance of improvement of patient education and collaboration with referring physicians.

Long-Term Real-Life Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Ozurdex® Injections and Factors Associated with Macular Edema Resolution after Retinal Vein Occlusion: The REMIDO 2 Study.

PURPOSE: The objective was to study long-term real-life efficacy and safety of repeated Ozurdex® injections and factors associated with macular edema (ME) resolution after retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: Patients with ME after retinal vein occlusion, receiving Ozurdex®, were included to assess the following endpoints: visual acuity and central retinal thickness, retreatment, number of injections, side effects and ME resolution. ME resolution was defined as permanent discontinuation of intravitreal injections (IVTs) for at least 6 months after the last IVT. RESULTS: A total of 94 eyes were included with an average of 2.6 IVTs (max 6 IVTs). 58.6% of patients gained ≥15 letters and 51.1% of patients showed ME resolution. Among the resolved patients, 64.6% were treatment-naïve, 60.4% had branch retinal vein occlusion, and 78.1% gained ≥15 letters. CONCLUSIONS: Ozurdex® seemed to be a valuable treatment which may allow to achieve long-term anatomical and functional improvements and ME resolution with a minimum number of IVTs.

Long-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant Ozurdex® in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This was a retrospective noncomparative study. A total of 23 patients with DME followed for at least 12 months were included. All patients were treated with at least 2 Ozurdex® injections for the treatment of DME. Best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), and cataract progression were recorded over 12 months. RESULTS: From baseline, the mean decrease in central retinal thickness was 315.9 µm at the 12th month and the mean best-corrected visual acuity improvement from baseline was 8.7 letters. Ozurdex® is administered via the extended release system Novadur®. Its efficacy extends beyond 4 months with a single injection and permits allows good stabilization until the 12th month, with 2.13 injections during this period. An increase in IOP was observed in 13.1% of patients and all were managed using topical IOP-lowering medications. No glaucoma or cataract surgery was necessary, and no endophthalmitis was reported. CONCLUSIONS: In real-life clinical practice, Ozurdex® has anatomical and functional effectiveness for the treatment of DME. Side effects were rare and manageable in our practice.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal implant of dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) in diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter noncomparative study. Seventy-eight patients with DME followed for at least 6 months were included (P1.5 Network). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract progression were studied at baseline and then at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months. RESULTS: The mean CRT decrease from baseline was 145.2 µm at 6 months. The mean BCVA improvement from baseline was 6.7 at 6 months. An increase in IOP was observed for 11.7% of patients, and all patients were managed by topical treatment. No glaucoma or cataract surgery was necessary, and no endophthalmitis was reported. CONCLUSIONS: One injection of Ozurdex has an anatomical and functional effectiveness for the treatment of DME. Side effects were rare and manageable in our practice. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in French Guiana and West Indies caused by coxsackievirus A24 variant: phylogenetic analysis reveals Asian import.

An outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis occurred in French Guiana between April and July 2003, with approximately 6,000 cases in the two major cities Kourou and Cayenne. Since acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis is not a notifiable disease in France, there was no registration of the number of cases. Therefore, these were estimated by comparing the consumption of antibiotic eye drops and ophthalmic ointments during 2002 and 2003. The outbreak rapidly spread into the Caribbean Islands, causing an outbreak in Guadeloupe in October. Viral isolates from conjunctival swabs of 16 patients were confirmed to be enterovirus by PCR directed to the 5' UTR of the genome. The isolates could not be neutralized by the Melnick intersecting pools, but were shown to be CV-A24 variant by limited sequencing within the VP1 and 3C regions of 12 strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that they were similar to the genotype III strains causing outbreaks in Korea 2002 and Malaysia 2003. The previous outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by CV-A24 in the Caribbean in the 1980s was also introduced from Asia, and disappeared after 3 years. This new introduction from Asia and its rapid spread into the Caribbean, where the infection disappeared after a few months, indicates that the CV-A24 variant has a different epidemiological pattern in this region compared to South East Asia, since it has not established an endemic infection. It had to be reintroduced from Asia, where it has been circulating since the 1970s.