Assessment of Macular Microvascular Changes after Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injection in Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Objective: With the help of optical coherence tomography angiography, this study sought to determine if the retinal capillary plexus and choriocapillaris in diabetic macular edema patients' eyes had changed after Ranibizumab is administered intravitreally once.Patients and Methods: A prospective, interventional, randomized clinical trial with 20 diabetic macular edema patients' eyes were chosen from outpatient clinic Ophthalmology department of Al-Azhar university hospital, Cairo, Egypt during period from 2022 to 2023. Prior to intravitreal ranibizumab treatment and one month after, the visual acuity of each patient was assessed. Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography was performed at baseline preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively for assessing superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, vascular density, Foveal avascular zone, and choriocapillaris vessels density.Results: The BCVA showed a considerable improvement [p <0.001] and significant reduction in the CFT [p value < 0.001]. Also, choriocapillaris showed a significant improvement [p value < 0.001]. On the other hand, there were in significant changes in the superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, vascular density, and Foveal avascular zone before and after treatment.Conclusion: Intravitreal ranibizumab effectively decreased macular thickness and improved visual acuity and choriocapillaris.

Keywords

• retinal capillary plexus
• choriocapillaris
• optical coherence tomography angiography
• intravitreal
• ranibizumab