EFFECT OF BASELINE CENTRAL RETINAL THICKNESS ON THE RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA WITH AFLIBERCEPT: REAL-LIFE EVIDENCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

AIM: Presentation of the 1-year results of aflibercept treatment in patients suffering from diabetic macular edema (DME) and comparison of the response to treatment of patients with different baseline central retinal thickness (CRT). METHODS: This was a multicentre, retrospective observational study of a series of cases. Patients with DME were treated in a fixed regimen (5 injections at 1-monthly intervals and then injections at 2-monthly intervals). The period of follow-up was 12 months. The development of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CRT was evaluated. Measurements were performed prior to the commencement of treatment and then after 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months. RESULTS: The therapeutically naive group consisted of 82 eyes of 79 patients. The total cohort of patients was divided into 3 groups according to the baseline values of CRT. The first group was composed of 28 eyes with baseline CRT < 450 μm (34.1%), the second included 25 eyes with CRT in the range of 450-550 μm (30.5%), and the third group consisted of 29 eyes with baseline CRT > 550 μm (35.4%). The average baseline BCVA and SD in the first group was 66 ±7.1 letters ETDRS optotypes, and then 70 ±7 letters, 69.6 ±7.3 letters, and 71.3 ±7 letters at the follow-ups after 4, 8, and 12 months. The average baseline value of CRT and SD in the first group was 379 ±48.6 μm, and then 337.1 ±76.5 μm, 320.2 ±74.1 μm, and 315.1 ±62.2 μm after 4, 8, and 12 months. The average baseline BCVA and SD in the second group was 64.1 ±9.7 ETDRS letters, and then 66.9 ±10 letters, 70 ±9.9 letters, and 70.5 ±11.5 letters after 4, 8, and 12 months. The average baseline value of CRT and SD in the second group was 497.4 ±76.4 μm, and then 376.5 ±106.1 μm, 360.8 ±70 μm, and 351.3 ±91.3 μm after 4, 8, and 12 months. In the third group, the average baseline value of BCVA and SD was 59.7 ±10.4 ETDRS letters, and then 65 ±10.6 letters, 64.8 ±9.6 letters, and 67 ±10 letters after 4, 8, and 12 months. The average baseline value of CRT and SD in the third group was 639.4 ±79.6 μm, and then 396.7 ±147.1 μm, 416.9 ±139.8 μm, and 368.5 ±109.9 μm after 4, 8, and 12 months. All these changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Aflibercept treatment in a fixed regimen in patients suffering from DME results in a statistically significant improvement in BCVA and a decrease in CRT in the first year of treatment. Patients with a higher baseline CRT showed the best anatomical and functional results of the 1-year treatment with aflibercept.

Ophthalmic manifestations of acute leukaemias.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To determine the incidence of ocular pathological findings in a group of patients with acute leukemia. To define the predictive value of the presence of the ocular pathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of a group of 67 patients with acute leukemia (age 1-75 years) examined at the Ophthalmology Clinic, Faculty Hospital Ostrava, from 2005 to 2014. RESULTS: Ocular pathological findings were found in 13 patients of the group (19.4 %) - 7 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (10.9 %) and 6 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (8.5 %). 10 patients died due to of the underlying disease. Ocular pathological findings were found in 6 of them (60 %). A higher prognostic value was found in a group of patients with AML. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology examination is a necessary part of the examination of patients with acute leukemia. This prognostic benefit is particularly significant in patients with AML. Key words: acute myeloid leukemia, fundus leucaemicus, Roth's spot, ophthalmology examination.

Results of Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy by the Laser System PASCAL.

PURPOSE: To evaluate anatomical, functional and clinical efficacy of the pattern scanning laser (PASCAL®) photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: The cohort included 91 eyes in 50 patients (average age 63 years, 24 men and 26 women) treated at the Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty Hospital Ostrava, from 2008 to 2013. All eyes showed the signs of diabetic retinopathy (20.9% of eyes - very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 79.1% of eyes - proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)). All the eyes were "treatment naive". The average duration of diabetes was 18 years, average baseline HbA1c value was 8.2 %. Panretinal photocoagulation was performed with by the means of PASCAL photocoagulator - with patterns and short duration pulses. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), fundus photography, biomicroscopy and complications were evaluated during the minimum of 12 months follow-up period. Statistical analysis using Shapiro-Wilk a Friedman tests with p value less than 0.05 was done. RESULTS: Mean baseline BCVA was 0.13 logMAR. Values 0.12, 0.15 and 0.19 logMAR were observed in the follow-up intervals at the 4th, 6th and 12th month. At the 6th month visit all 91 eyes (100 %) were stabilized, and at the 12th month visit in 5 eyes (5.5 %) progression of the disease was observed. No complications were observed during the first 12 months follow up. CONCLUSION: Laser photocoagulation of the retina with the use of short pulse durations and patterns in patients with DR is an effective and safe method of treatment. Key words: diabetic retinopathy, laser photocoagulation, patterns, low time of impulse, Pascal.

[Treatment Results of the Diabetic Macular Edema by Means of the PASCAL Laser System]. / Výsledky lécby diabetického makulárního edému laserovým systémem PASCAL.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate functional, anatomical and clinical efficacy, and safety of the pattern scanning laser (PASCAL®) photocoagulation in patients with diabetic macular edema and absence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: From 2008 to 2013 84 eyes of 58 patients (30 men, 28 women) were treated with pattern laser photocoagulation at the Ophthalmology Department at University Hospital Ostrava. Average age at the baseline visit was 65 years. The inclusion criteria included nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (84 eyes), focal DME (14 eyes), diffuse exudative DME (70 eyes). All the eyes were "treatment naive". The average duration of diabetes was 18 years, average baseline HbA1c value was 8,4%. Either focal laser photocoagulation or grid photocoagulation was performed with the PASCAL photocoagulator. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), fundus photography, biomicroscopy and complications were evaluated during the minimum 12months follow-up period. Statistical analysis using parametrical and nonparametrical tests with p less than 0,05 was done. RESULTS: Mean baseline BCVA was 0,43 logMAR. Values 0,38, 0,37, 0,38 a 0,38 logMAR were observed in the follow-up intervals in the 4th, 6th, 12th and 18th month. In 4 eyes (5%) improvement of more than 3 lines was observed, in 26 eyes (31%) improvement from 0 to 3 lines was observed, in 52 eyes (62%) decrease from 0 to 3 lines was observed and in 2 eyes (2%) decrease of more than 3 lines was observed. Mean baseline CRT was 398 µm, values 370 µm, 362 µm, 349 µm and 338 µm were observed in the follow-up intervals in the 4th, 6th, 12th and 18th month. At the 12th month visit 76 eyes (90%) were stabilized, and in 8 eyes (10%) progression of the disease was observed. No complications were observed during the first 12 monhts follow up. CONCLUSION: Pattern scanning laser photocoagulation of DME lead to BCVA and clinical stabilization. In addition to this, it lead to decrease of the CRT. The efficacy was comparable to traditional laser systems with no apparent benefit to the traditional systems. The efficacy was inferior to modern intraocular anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) drugs.