Intravitreal ranibizumab for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: Patients with macular edema secondary to perfused central retinal vein occlusion were enrolled in this ongoing, prospective, open-label study. Treatment was initiated with monthly intravitreal ranibizumab for 3 months. In the first year, additional injections were administered for edema in quarterly intervals as needed (PRN) for Cohort 1 (n = 10) and monthly PRN for Cohort 2 (n = 10). In the second year of treatments, all patients received monthly PRN treatment. Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness, fundus photographs, and fluorescein angiograms were evaluated, and the incidence and severity of adverse events were documented. RESULTS: Mean change in best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness improved during the induction phase in both groups. During the remainder of the first year for Cohort 1, initial gains were lost during quarterly treatment but returned with monthly PRN treatment in the second year. For Cohort 2, improvement in best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness from the induction phase was maintained through Month 24. Nineteen of 20 patients experienced a reduction in intraretinal hemorrhage, optic nerve swelling, and/or venous diameter after treatment. One myocardial infarction, one cerebrovascular accident, and no serious ocular adverse events were reported. Iris neovascularization was developed in none of the eyes. CONCLUSION: Ranibizumab was well tolerated and associated with a greater reduction in macular edema and improvement in visual acuity in the monthly PRN regimen compared with quarterly treatment. Vision lost during the quarterly PRN injection intervals in the first year of Cohort 1 could be regained by switching to monthly PRN dosing.

Cystoid macular edema secondary to Paclitaxel (abraxane).

PURPOSE: To report a case of cystoid macular edema secondary to systemic paclitaxel. METHODS: A 58-year-old man with Stage 4 metastatic cutaneous melanoma presented with decreased vision and macular edema while having minimal fluorescein leakage 7 months into a course of paclitaxel chemotherapy. The edema continued to worsen, and vision declined until paclitaxel therapy was discontinued. Six weeks after cessation of paclitaxel, the edema had completely resolved and vision returned to normal. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel use can result in reversible vision loss associated with angiographically silent macular edema.

Retinal neovascularization associated with a retinal arterial macroaneurysm.

PURPOSE: This case report describes an uncommon presence of a retinal arterial macroaneurysm complicated by retinal neovascularization. METHODS: This is a case history of a 49-year-old woman presenting with preretinal, intraretinal, and subretinal hemorrhage with an adjacent retinal arterial macroaneurysm complicated by the development of retinal neovascularization. RESULTS: The neovascularization, intraretinal lipid, and retinal and preretinal hemorrhage resolved after laser photocoagulation, topical steroids, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent treatment. CONCLUSION: The rapid development of a large frond of neovascularization is atypical for retinal arterial macular aneurysms and has not been previously reported.

Ranibizumab for the treatment of macular edema associated with perfused central retinal vein occlusions.

PURPOSE: Assessment of biological effect, visual acuity changes, and safety of intravitreal (IVT) ranibizumab in patients with macular edema associated with perfused central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). DESIGN: Ongoing, prospective, open-label, single-center, uncontrolled study. PARTICIPANTS: Ten adult patients with macular edema associated with perfused CRVO. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive 3 monthly IVT injections of either 0.3 or 0.5 mg ranibizumab (n = 5 at each dose). Additional injections were administered quarterly as needed over the ensuing 21 months at the physician's discretion for recurrent or persistent macular edema. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The predetermined primary endpoint was the percentage of patients gaining >or=15 letters of best-corrected Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity (BCVA). The secondary endpoints include the mean change in BCVA and central retinal thickness (CRT) measured by optical coherence tomography, the rate of progression to ischemic CRVO, extent of intraocular hemorrhage, retinal vein diameter, optic nerve head swelling, and the incidence and severity of ocular and nonocular adverse events. RESULTS: After 3, 6, and 9 months of follow-up, 40%, 10%, and 30% of patients, respectively, gained >or=15 letters in BCVA; mean BCVA improved by 12+/-20 letters, 3+/-21 letters, and 1+/-24 letters, respectively, compared with baseline; CRT showed a mean decrease of 272+/-244 microm, 88+/-178 microm, and 119+/-153 microm, compared with baseline. No significant differences were observed between the 0.3- and 0.5-mg doses. Most patients experienced decreases in the extent of retinal hemorrhage, retinal vein diameter, and optic nerve head swelling at months 3 and 6 compared with baseline. No patients progressed to ischemic CRVO or experienced a severe adverse event that was attributed to ranibizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Ranibizumab is generally well-tolerated and may improve BCVA and decrease CRT. The improvements in BCVA and CRT observed during the initial monthly injection period (0 to 3 months) were possibly lost to the recurrence of macular edema in between ranibizumab injection during the quarterly treatments (3 to 9 months). The extent of retinal hemorrhage, retinal vein diameter, and nerve swelling continued to normalize for most of the patients from baseline to 6 months. Follow-up is ongoing, and alternative dosing regimens are being evaluated.