Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Macular Edema following Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: 1 Initial Injection versus 3 Monthly Injections

Ophthalmologica. 2018;239(1):27-35. doi: 10.1159/000479049. Epub 2017 Sep 26.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the 12-month efficacy of 1 initial intravitreal injection of an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent followed by pro re nata (PRN) dosing with that of 3 initial monthly injections followed by PRN dosing in patients with macular edema (ME) after central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods: Twenty-nine eyes received 1 initial injection (1+PRN group) and 20 received 3 monthly injections (3+PRN group).

Results: At month 12, changes in logMAR visual acuity from baseline were -0.172 ± 0.372 and -0.142 ± 0.317 in the 1+PRN and 3+PRN groups, respectively; the difference was not significant (p = 0.769). The number of anti-VEGF injections administered in the 3+PRN group (5.9 ± 2.1) was significantly greater than that in the 1+PRN group (4.1 ± 2.8; p = 0.022).

Conclusion: When used for ME after CRVO, a 1+PRN regimen achieved 12-month outcomes similar to those of a 3+PRN regimen with fewer injections.

Keywords: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; Central retinal vein occlusion; Macular edema; Optical coherence tomography.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macula Lutea / pathology*
  • Macular Edema / diagnosis
  • Macular Edema / drug therapy*
  • Macular Edema / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Ranibizumab / administration & dosage*
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / complications*
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / diagnosis
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / drug therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Ranibizumab