Long-Term Follow-Up Changes of Central Choroidal Thickness Thinning after Repeated Anti-VEGF Therapy Injections in Patients with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion-Related Macular Edema with Systemic Hypertension.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We investigated the thinning of central choroidal thickness (CCT) following intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs to treat central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)-related macular edema in patients with and without systemic hypertension (HT) to assess the influence of repeated anti-VEGF therapy and HT on the choroid in CRVO eyes.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective study involving 27 patients with CRVO-related macular edema from January 2014 to July 2017, with follow-ups exceeding 18 months. Visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and CCT were evaluated before and after initial anti-VEGF drug treatment during follow-up.

RESULTS:

The mean follow-up period was 35.2 months. Seventeen (63.0%) patients had HT. At 1 month after treatment, VA had improved in 21 (77.8%) patients, and CRT had decreased in 25 (92.6%). At the final visit, 22 (81.5%) showed improved VA, 19 (70.4%) had resolved macular edema, and the CCT had gradually become thinner with additional drug injections in all the patients. Furthermore, the mean CCT in HT patients (209.0 µm) was significantly lower than in non-HT patients (256.1 µm), and the mean injections were 7.8 and 5.3, respectively (p = 0.2067).

CONCLUSION:

The CCTs were thinner in eyes with HT than in eyes without HT both before and after the repeated anti-VEGF injections.

• Authors: Teruyo Kida, Shou Osuka, Masanori Fukumoto, Takaki Sato, Seiyo Harino, Hidehiro Oku, Tsunehiko Ikeda
• Journal: Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde (Ophthalmologica) Vol. 243 Issue 2 Pg. 102-109 ( 2020) ISSN: 1423-0267 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 31851998 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Bevacizumab

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Bevacizumab (administration & dosage)
• Choroid (pathology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hypertension (complications)
• Intravitreal Injections
• Macular Edema (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retinal Vein Occlusion (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Visual Acuity