Intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the effects of a single injection of Ozurdex over 6 months in eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME).

METHODS:

In this retrospective interventional study, 9 patients with decreased visual acuity, as a result of persistent DME, received Ozurdex (intravitreal dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg). Main outcome measures included changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT).

RESULTS:

Nine eyes of 9 patients (5 males, 4 females; mean age 58 years) were included in the analysis. The mean duration of DME was 49.9 months (range 24-85). All patients had undergone previous treatments for DME (intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, steroids or laser photocoagulation) before entering the study. At baseline, the mean BCVA was 0.74 ± 0.33 logMAR, and the mean CRT was 502 ± 222.16 µm. The mean BCVA was unchanged on the third day (0.74 ± 0.38 logMAR, p = 0.5), improved to 0.62 ± 0.32 logMAR (p = 0.02), 0.59 ± 0.26 logMAR (p = 0.02) and 0.63 ± 0.38 logMAR (p = 0.6) after the first, third and fourth months, respectively, and decreased again to 0.73 ± 0.35 logMAR (p = 0.4) at 6 months. The mean CRT improved to 397 ± 115.31 µm (p = 0.17), 271 ± 99.97 µm (p = 0.007), 325 ± 133.05 µm (p = 0.03) and 462 ± 176.48 µm (p = 0.36) on the third day and after 1, 3 and 4 months of follow-up and then increased again to 537 ± 265.42 µm (p = 0.33) at 6 months. Eight patients needed retreatments in the sixth month. One eye developed a transient intraocular pressure (IOP) increase 1 month after injection, which was successfully managed with topical IOP-lowering medication.

CONCLUSION:

In eyes with persistent DME, Ozurdex produces improvement in BCVA and CRT as soon as the first days after the injection. Such improvement is maintained until the fourth month.

• Authors: Ilaria Zucchiatti, Rosangela Lattanzio, Giuseppe Querques, Lea Querques, Claudia Del Turco, Maria Lucia Cascavilla, Francesco Bandello
• Journal: Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde (Ophthalmologica) Vol. 228 Issue 2 Pg. 117-22 ( 2012) ISSN: 1423-0267 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22310491 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Drug Implants
• Glucocorticoids
• Dexamethasone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Dexamethasone (administration & dosage)
• Diabetic Retinopathy (diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Drug Implants
• Female
• Fluorescein Angiography
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Laser Coagulation
• Macular Edema (diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• Visual Acuity (physiology)
• Vitreous Body