Intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab treating noninfectious uveitic macular edema

Abstract

AIM:To evaluate the effects and safety of intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab on noninfectious uveitic macular edema(UME). METHODS: This was an open and prospective study without control trial. Seventeen eyes from 17 patients with UME diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and optical coherence tomography(OCT)were enrolled in this study. Before the injection, best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study(ETDRS)and central macular thickness(CMT)measured by OCT were examined. All affected eyes were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab 0.05mL(0.5mg). The BCVA, CMT and intraocular pressure(IOP)were compared with baseline at 2, 4, 8 and 12wk after treatment. Related complications were recorded. RESULTS: The median BCVA before treatment was 57(P25 and P75 were 52.5 and 64.5, respectively). The median CMT was 524μm(P25 and P75 were 365.5 and 571, respectively). At 2, 4, 8, and 12wk after injection, the median BCVA of the affected eyes was 76(P25 and P75 were 71 and 80, respectively), 81(P25 and P75 were 78.5 and 83, respectively), 82(P25 and P75 were 68.5 and 84, respectively), and 82(P25 and P75 are 78.5 and 83, respectively). The Friedman M test showed that there were differences in the BCVA in the four groups at different follow-up times, that was, BCVA after injection was higher than before injection(χ2=47.58, P25 and P75 were 249.5 and 374.5, respectively),231μm(P25 and P75 were 212.5 and 267), 219μm(P25 and P75 were 210.5 and 365.5,respectively), and 217μm(P25 and P75 were 201.5 and 366.5,respectively). The Friedman M test showed that there was difference in the CMT in the four groups at different follow-up times(χ2=40.33, PCONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab is a safe and effective approach for noninfectious uveitic macular edema in the short term, which can significantly improve visual acuity and reduce CMT in patients refractory to or intolerant of standard corticosteroid/ immunomodulatory therapy.

Keywords

• uveitis
• macular edema
• drug therapy
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• ranibizumab
• ranibizumab