Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for retinal macroaneurysm.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We evaluated the effect of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy using bevacizumab or ranibizumab for retinal macroaneurysms with macular exudation.

METHODS:

In a retrospective interventional case series patients with retinal macroaneurysms were treated with either 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab or 0.5 mg ranibizumab as first-line therapy. Patients were imaged by fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography. Retreatment was performed in case of persistent intraretinal or subretinal fluid in optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS:

Ten patients (10 eyes) with macroaneurysm involving the macula were treated with an average of 3.0 intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections. Mean best corrected visual acuity of all patients improved by 17 letters from baseline to the last follow-up visit. In 7 out of 10 patients, the fovea was affected by a secondary edema. In cases with foveal involvement, central retinal thickness decreased from 366 µm at baseline to 266 µm at the last follow-up visit. In the course of treatment 8 out of 10 patients showed evidence of marked regression of macular exsudation.

CONCLUSION:

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy appears to be a promising treatment alternative to laser treatment in cases of retinal macroaneurysms with macular exudation.

• Authors: S A Zweifel, M S Tönz, L Pfenninger, M Becker, S Michels
• Journal: Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde (Klin Monbl Augenheilkd) Vol. 230 Issue 4 Pg. 392-5 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1439-3999 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23629789 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Bevacizumab
• Ranibizumab

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aneurysm (drug therapy)
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (administration & dosage)
• Bevacizumab
• Humans
• Intravitreal Injections
• Ranibizumab
• Retinal Artery (drug effects)
• Retinal Diseases (drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)