Effect of intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF on choroidal thickness and blood flow in posterior ciliary artery in patients with wet ARMD

Abstract

AIM:To investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)on choroidal thickness and posterior ciliary artery blood flow in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration(ARMD). METHODS:A total of 93 wet ARMD patients enrolled into the ophthalmology department in our hospital from September 2014 to December 2016 were selected into our study. The patients were treated with anti-VEGF vitreous injection for 3mo. The central retinal thickness(CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA, LogMAR), choroidal neovascularization(CNV)and parameters of ciliary arterial blood flow \〖systolic peak flow velocity(PSV), end-diastolic blood flow velocity(EDV)and mean blood velocity(mV), resistance index(RI)/pulse index(PI)\〗 before treatment(T0), 1mo after treated(T1), 2mo after treated(T2), 3mo after treated(T3)were recorded and compared. All patients had been followed for 18mo, and side-effect were recorded. RESULTS: All wet ARMD patients had successfully completed intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Compared with before treatment, BCVA, CRT, SFCT, and CNV had gradually decreased(F=72.738, 32.333, 7.305 and 957.450, PPF=2.619, 1.942, 0.820, P>0.05). Compared with before treatment, RI index had gradually decreased(F=25.451, PF=8.660, PT2≈T1>T0; RI: T3≈T2CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF can effectively reduce choroidal thickness and increase ciliary posterior arterial perfusion, with a good long-term effect and less risk.

Keywords

• anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
• wet age-related macular degeneration
• choroidal thickness
• posterior ciliary arterial blood flow