Predictive impact of serous retinal detachment in refractory diabetic macular edema

Abstract

Abstract Background Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs are the first-line treatment option for DME management. However, part of DME was refractory to anti-VEGF medicine. With promotion of imaging technology, various retinal morphological characteristics are considered to be related to the prognosis of DME treatment. This study aimed to identify reliable predictive baseline morphological characteristics for refractory diabetic macular edema. Methods This retrospective study was to investigate refractory diabetic macular edema and were followed up for 6 months post-treatment. According to the treatment results, the cohort was divided into refractory or improved group. Baseline morphological characteristics were evaluated and analyzed using optical coherence tomography. Results Serous retinal detachment (63% vs. 25%, P 162 μm having a potential to become refractory in this study. This finding may promote early detection of refractory diabetic macular edema.

Keywords

• Diabetic macular edema
• Refractory
• Morphological characteristics
• Biomarkers
• Optical coherence tomography