Clinical efficacy of Ranibizumab for exudative age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Objective To investigate changes in subretinal fluid(SRF), intraretinal fluid(IRF)and visual acuity after treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)drugs in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration(WAMD)combined with disseminated epithelial detachment(PED). Methods Thirty-one WAMD patients with PED were retrospectively analyzed.Imaging characteristics of retinal morphological changes and changes in visual acuity were analyzed by optical coherence tomography(OCT)before and after treatment with Ranibizumab(1 mg). Results Thirty-one patients were treated with regular doses 3 to 17 times.WAMD patients with persistent/recurrent SRF, IRF and PED were treated with Ranibizumab(1 mg)1 to 3 times.There was a significant difference in the mean central retinal thickness(CRT)before and after 1 month of treatment(498.5±242.9 μm vs.406.0±201.9 μm, t=6.025, P<0.01).85.7% of patients(24 cases)had a decrease in SRF, 60%(9 cases)had a decrease in IRF and 67.7%(10 patients)had a decrease in PED, and 19 patients(32.7%)had increased visual acuity assessed by the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study(ETDRS)chart(≥ 5 letters), and 36 patients(61.2%)had stable vision. Conclusions Intravitreal injection of 1 mg Ranibizumab for the treatment of WAMD patients with PED can improve or stabilize visual acuity and reduce SRF, IRF and PED. Key words: Macular degeneration; Pigment epithelial of eye; Choroidal neovascularization