PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term effects (hours-days) of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-arm, interventional clinical series. Eyes with DME and 3-9 injections of ranibizumab without a good response were included. Patients underwent a single IDI. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, complete ophthalmic evaluation, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed at baseline, 2 h, 3 h, 24 h, 7 days, and 1 month. The main outcomes were change in central retinal thickness (CRT) on SD-OCT and BCVA. RESULTS: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients were included. Mean CRT decreased after treatment from 515.87 µm ± 220.00 µm at baseline to 489.60 µm ± 176.53 µm after 2 h (p = 0.126), and 450.13 µm ± 163.43 at 24 h (p = 0.006). Change in BCVA was from 0.85 ± 0.44 logMAR baseline to 0.58 ± 0.37 log MAR at 1 month (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Eyes treated with IDI showed significant decrease in CRT detectable 1 day after injection. In some patients, the effect could be observed 3 h post-implantation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05736081 . Registered 20 February 2023, Retrospectively registered.
Diabetes Mellitus , Diabetic Retinopathy , Macular Edema , Humans , Macular Edema/diagnosis , Macular Edema/drug therapy , Macular Edema/etiology , Dexamethasone , Glucocorticoids , Diabetic Retinopathy/complications , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/drug therapy , Prospective Studies , Intravitreal Injections , Drug Implants , Tomography, Optical Coherence
Novel strategies have been developed to reduce or avoid intravitreal injections (IVTs) of the antiangiogenic (ranibizumab (RBZ)) and anti-inflammatory (triamcinolone acetonide (TA)) agents used to treat vitreoretinal diseases. One of the strategies includes liposomes. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a topical triamcinolone-loaded liposome formulation (TALF) as an adjuvant to intravitreal RBZ therapy in treatment- naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Subjects were randomly assigned to the RBZ-TALF or the RBZ-pro re nata (RBZ-PRN) groups. Patients from the RBZ-TALF group were instructed to apply TALF for 12 months after a single dose of RBZ. Patients from the RBZ-PRN group received three monthly RBZ-IVTs. Retreatment with RBZ was considered in the case of nAMD reactivation. Regarding safety, non-ocular abnormalities were observed during TALF therapy. Concerning efficacy, non-significant differences were identified in terms of visual acuity or central foveal thickness when the RBZ-PRN and RBZ-TALF groups were compared. It is worth noting that the average number of RBZ injections was significantly lower in the RBZ-TALF group (2.5 ± 1.4 vs. 6.1 ± 1.3 IVTs; p = 0.0004). Therefore, TALF used as an adjuvant to RBZ reduces the need for RBZ-IVT retreatment with optimal visual and anatomic results.
This case report aims to describe the diagnosis, treatment, and evolution of bilateral, asymmetrical retinal capillary hemangioblastomas treated with argon laser and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and also reports the results of an online survey of treatment preferences among retina and vitreous specialists. A previously healthy 23-year-old female presented to our Retina Department complaining of progressive visual loss in her right eye. Visual acuity at admission was 20/300 in her right eye and 20/20 in her left eye. Anterior segment findings were unremarkable and fundoscopy revealed the presence of retinal capillary hemangioblastomas in both eyes. In the right eye, the hemangioblastoma was associated with pronounced exudation and macular edema; in the left eye, the lesion was quiescent. After a complete anamnesis and genetic counseling, Von Hippel-Lindau disease was diagnosed. Treatment with laser photocoagulation was performed on both eyes. One dose of 0.5 mg intravitreal ranibizumab was applied to the right eye. Two months after treatment, the right eye demonstrated improved visual acuity (20/100). Moreover, an important decrease in tumor dimensions and a reduction of vessel tortuosity was seen in both eyes. At 18 months of follow-up, the patient maintains a good visual acuity without recurrence of the treated tumors. Laser treatment should be considered as the primary treatment option for patients with capillary hemangioblastomas with and without exudation and can be combined with intravitreal antiangiogenics if exudation is significant. Inactive smaller lesions without exudation are likely to have an excellent response to laser treatment alone. Management should be individualized since no consensus between experts has been reached.
