Development Of Vitreous Hemorrhage Research Articles

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy in age-related macular degeneration with submacular hemorrhage

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 1-year visual outcomes of patients treated with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) or brolucizumab (IVBr) for submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We retrospectively studied 62 treatment-naïve eyes with SMHs exceeding one disc area (DA) secondary to AMD treated with IVA or IVBr. All patients received three monthly intravitreal injections in the loading phase followed by as-needed injections or fixed dosing. If a vitreous hemorrhage (VH) developed during the follow-up period, injections were discontinued and vitrectomy was performed. We evaluated the changes in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and factors that affected the BCVA improvement and VH development. A VH during treatment developed in five eyes (8.1%) (VH + group), and the mean BCVA worsened from 0.45 to 0.92. The BCVA improved significantly (P = 0.040) in the remaining 57 eyes (VH − group) from 0.42 to 0.36. The development of VHs was associated with significantly (P < 0.001) less VA improvement. Furthermore, large DAs and younger age at baseline were associated significantly (P = 0.010 and 0.046, respectively) with the development of VHs. Both IVA and IVBr appeared to improve functional outcomes in patients with SMH secondary to AMD when VHs did not develop. However, a VH developed in 8.1% of eyes after treatment. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments were well-tolerated, for cases with large SMH at baseline, it should be considered that VH may occur during the monotherapy treatment process using IVA or IVBr, and that achieving good visual outcomes may be difficult in some cases.

Effect of Antiplatelet Drugs on the Development of Vitreous Hemorrhage in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Effect of Antiplatelet Drugs on the Development of Vitreous Hemorrhage in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy for large submacular hemorrhage secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

To evaluate the efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy for large submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). A total of 49 treatment-naive patients (49 eyes) with large SMH (more than five disc areas (DAs)) secondary to nAMD were retrospectively included. All patients were treated with an initial series of 3 monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, followed by as-needed injections. At the 12-month follow-up, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), hemorrhage area, central foveal thickness, and development of vitreous hemorrhage after treatment were evaluated. The mean SMH area was 13.9 ± 8.8 disk areas (DAs) and mean symptom duration was 7.25 ± 5.9 days at baseline. The mean number of injections was 4.49 ± 1.61. Twelve months after treatment, the mean BCVA significantly improved from 1.14 ± 0.61 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR; 20/276, Snellen equivalent) to 0.82 ± 0.53 logMAR (20/132; P = 0.002). Twenty-four eyes (49%) showed improvement of more than three lines of BCVA at 12 months after treatment. Baseline BCVA (odds ratio (OR), 5.119; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.993-9.545; P = 0.004), duration of symptoms (OR, 0.727; 95% CI, 0.332-0.952; P = 0.024), hemorrhage area (OR, 0.892; 95% CI, 0.721-0.965; P = 0.011), and baseline central foveal thickness (OR, 0.881; 95% CI, 0.722-0.945; P = 0.032) were significantly associated with good visual acuity 12 months after treatment. Intravitreal anti-VEGF monotherapy is a valuable treatment option for large SMH secondary to nAMD.

Purtscher-like Retinopathy Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Purpose: To report on clinical manifestations of Purtscher-like retinopathy (PLR) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and visual outcomes.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 11 patients (21 affected eyes) with PLR in SLE.Results: All patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids ± immunosuppressive agents. Ocular therapy included intravitreal injections with bevacizumab in 18/21 eyes and posterior sub-Tenon injections with triamcinolone acetonide 13/21 eyes. Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) was performed in 19/21 eyes and pars plana vitrectomy was required in 5/21 eyes. Visual improvement was found at follow-up of 3 and 6 months (p = 0.05). Poor visual outcome was associated with presence of neovascularizations at onset (p = 0.009), development of vitreous hemorrhage during PRP (p = 0.015), and active status of SLE after onset of PLR (p = 0.029).Conclusions: PLR might manifest as a devastating complication of SLE. We recommend treating any systemic activity of SLE and starting an early ocular treatment.

PANRETINAL PHOTOCOAGULATION COMBINED WITH INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB IN HIGH-RISK PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab as an adjunctive treatment to panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy with or without clinically significant macular edema (CSME). In forty-one eyes with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy, intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) before PRP (Plus group) or PRP alone (PRP group) was performed. Primary outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness (CMT). Secondary outcome measures were the proportion of visual loss >/=0.1 logMAR, increase in CMT >/=50 mum, and eyes with development of vitreous hemorrhage. Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly worse at 3 months (P = 0.041) in the PRP group, whereas in the plus group, there was no significant change. Central macular thickness decreased significantly at 1 month and 3 months (P = 0.012, 0.008) in the Plus group, whereas in the PRP group, there was no significant change. In eyes with CSME, there was no significant change in best-corrected visual acuity in both groups. Central macular thickness decreased significantly at 1 month and 3 months (P = 0.003, 0.001) in the Plus group, whereas in the PRP group, there was no significant change. In eyes without CSME, best-corrected visual acuity was significantly worse at 1 month and 3 months (P = 0.047, 0.011) in the PRP group, whereas in the Plus group, there was no significant change. Central macular thickness was significantly worse at 1 month and 3 months (P = 0.004, 0.016) in the PRP group, whereas in the Plus group, there was no significant change. In eyes without CSME, the proportion of eyes with visual loss >/=0.1 logMAR at 1 month was significantly higher in the PRP group than in the Plus group (P = 0.020). The proportion of eyes with development of vitreous hemorrhage was significantly lower in the Plus group than in the PRP group (P = 0.023). Intravitreal bevacizumab before PRP can be an effective adjunctive treatment to PRP in the treatment of high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy, especially if there is not CSME.

Retrospective Case Review of Pediatric Patients with Uveitis Treated with Infliximab

To assess the response and adverse events associated with infliximab treatment for refractory, noninfectious pediatric uveitis. Retrospective noncomparative case series of pediatric patients with refractory uveitis treated with infliximab. Six patients were identified. Diagnoses of the participants included idiopathic uveitis (n = 1), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with uveitis (n = 3), idiopathic retinal vasculitis with uveitis (n = 1), and bilateral pars planitis, with vitreitis and papillitis of the left eye (n = 1). Uveitis developed in the patients (5 female, 1 male) at a mean age of 9.0 years (+/-5.0 years; range, 0.9-14.8 years). All patients had bilateral eye involvement. These patients were refractory to or dependent on topical steroids (n = 4), oral prednisone (n = 3), or both, and were also refractory to the following therapies: methotrexate (n = 6), cyclosporine (n = 3), mycophenolate mofetil (n = 3), etanercept (n = 3), and daclizumab (n = 1). All patients initially received infliximab at doses between 5 and 10 mg/kg at 2- to 4-week intervals, and then were maintained at 4- to 8-week intervals at doses of 5 to 18 mg/kg. Mean follow-up time on treatment has been 48.1 weeks (+/-14.9 weeks; range, 32-74 weeks). Primary outcome measures included the quantitative measurement of the amount of ocular inflammation in different locations within the eye. Patients were monitored for infusion reactions as well as other potential side effects. The children's clinical status, complete blood counts, and liver function panels were monitored by pediatric rheumatologists every 6 weeks. All 6 patients showed reduction in their intraocular inflammation after infliximab therapy was initiated. Furthermore, control of ocular inflammation was achieved while receiving infliximab therapy. Topical and systemic corticosteroids were able to be discontinued in all patients except for 1 patient, who is currently weaning off prednisone. The only adverse reactions seen were the development of vitreous hemorrhage in 1 patient and a case of transient upper respiratory infusion reaction. No patient has had to discontinue treatment. Infliximab seems to be an effective agent for the treatment of refractory pediatric uveitis without apparent serious toxicity in this series of patients.

Anterior segment sparing to reduce charged particle radiotherapy complications in uveal melanoma

The purpose of this investigation is to delineate the risk factors in the development of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) after helium-ion irradiation of uveal melanoma patients and to propose treatment technique that may reduce this risk. 347 uveal melanoma patients were treated with helium-ions using a single-port treatment technique. Using univariate and multivariate statistics, the NVG complication rate was analyzed according to the percent of anterior chamber in the radiation field, tumor size, tumor location, sex, age, dose, and other risk factors. Several University of California San Francisco-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) patients in each size category (medium, large, and extralarge) were retrospectively replanned using two ports instead of a single port. By using appropriate polar and azimuthal gaze angles or by treating patients with two ports, the maximum dose to the anterior segment of the eye can often be reduced. Although a larger volume of anterior chamber may receive a lower dose by using two ports than a single port treatment. We hypothesize that this could reduce the level of complications that result from the irradiation of the anterior chamber of the eye. Dose-volume histograms were calculated for the lens, and compared for the single and two-port techniques. NVG developed in 121 (35%) patients. The risk of NVG peaked between 1 and 2.5 years posttreatment. By univariate and multivariate analysis, the percent of lens in the field was strongly correlated with the development of NVG. Other contributing factors were tumor height, history of diabetes, and vitreous hemorrhage. Dose-volume histogram analysis of single-port vs. two-port techniques demonstrate that for some patients in the medium and large category tumor groups, a significant decrease in dose to the structures in the anterior segment of the eye could have been achieved with the use of two ports. The development of NVG after helium-ion irradiation is correlated to the amount of lens, anterior chamber in the treatment field, tumor height, proximity to the fovea, history of diabetes, and the development of vitreous hemorrhage. Although the influence of the higher LET deposition of helium-ions is unclear, this study suggests that by reducing the dose to the anterior segment of the eye may reduce the NVG complications. Based on this retrospective analysis of LBNL patients, we have implemented techniques to reduce the amount of the anterior segment receiving a high dose in our new series of patients treated with protons using the cyclotron at the UC Davis Crocker Nuclear Laboratory (CNL).

Argon Laser Scatter Photocoagulation for Prevention of Neovascularization and Vitreous Hemorrhage in Branch Vein Occlusion

The Branch Vein Occlusion Study is a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial designed to answer several questions regarding the management of complications of branch vein occlusion. This report addresses the questions, "Can peripheral scatter argon laser photocoagulation prevent the development of neovascularization?" and "Can peripheral scatter argon laser photocoagulation prevent vitreous hemorrhage?" To answer the first question, 319 eyes were assigned randomly to either a treated or an untreated control group. Comparing treated patients with control patients (average follow-up time, 3.7 years), the development of neovascularization was significantly less in treated eyes (P = .009, log rank test). To answer the second question, 82 eyes were assigned randomly to either a treated or untreated control group. Comparing treated patients with control patients (average follow-up time, 2.8 years), the development of vitreous hemorrhage was significantly less in treated eyes (P = .005, log rank test). Although the Branch Vein Occlusion Study was not designed to determine whether peripheral scatter treatment should be applied before rather than after the development of neovascularization, data accumulated in this study suggest that peripheral scatter treatment should be applied after the development of neovascularization rather than before the development of neovascularization. Because the occurrence of vitreous hemorrhage was lessened by peripheral scatter argon laser photocoagulation, we recommend laser photocoagulation for patients with branch vein occlusion who have developed neovascularization and who meet the eligibility criteria of this study.