The therapeutic effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) was determined by a number of factors. Comprehensive thorough analysis of clinical features, imaging results and treatment response can predict the potential efficacy and possible vision recovery for the patient, and also can optimize the treatment regime to make a personalized therapy plan. Precise medicine with data from genomics, proteomics and metabolomics study will provide more objective and accurate biology basis for individual precise treatment. The future research should focus on comprehensive assessment of factors affecting the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy, to achieve individualized precise diagnosis and treatment, to improve the therapeutic outcome of nAMD.
Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is caused by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which occurs when the choroidal new capillaries reach the RPE layer and photoreceptor cell layer through the ruptured Bruch membrane, leading to neovascularization bleeding, leakage, and scarring. In view of the important role of VEGF in the development of CNV, targeted therapy with various intraocular anti-VEGF drugs is the first-line treatment for wAMD. However, the efficacy of anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of wAMD is affected by a variety of factors, and some patients still have problems such as unresponsiveness, drug resistence, tachyphylaxis, long-term repeated injections, and severe adverse effects. It is the direction of future researches to deeply explore the physiological and pathological process of wAMD, find the cause of CNV formation, and seek better therapies.
Objective To study and compare the clinical efficacy between intravitreal conbercept injection and (or) macular grid pattern photocoagulation in treating macular edema secondary to non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods Ninety eyes of 90 patients diagnosed as macular edema secondary to non-ischemic BRVO were enrolled in this study. Forty-eight patients (48 eyes) were male and 42 patients (42 eyes) were female. The average age was (51.25±12.24) years and the course was 5–17 days. All patients were given best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, slit lamp with preset lens, fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA) and optic coherent tomography (OCT) examination. The patients were divided into conbercept and laser group (group Ⅰ), laser group (group Ⅱ) and conbercept group (group Ⅲ), with 30 eyes in each group. The BCVA and central macular thickness (CMT) in the three groups at baseline were statistically no difference (F=0.072, 0.286;P=0.930, 0.752). Patients in group Ⅰ received intravitreal injection of 0.05 ml of 10.00 mg/ml conbercept solution (conbercept 0.5 mg), and macular grid pattern photocoagulation 3 days later. Group Ⅱ patients were given macular grid pattern photocoagulation. Times of injection between group Ⅰ and Ⅲ, laser energy between group Ⅰ and Ⅱ, changes of BCVA and CMT among 3 groups at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment were compared. Results Patients in group Ⅰ and Ⅲ had received conbercept injections (1.20±0.41) and (2.23±1.04) times respectively, and 6 eyes (group Ⅰ) and 22 eyes (group Ⅲ) received 2-4 times re-injections. The difference of injection times between two groups was significant (P＜0.001). Patients in group Ⅱ had received photocoagulation (1.43±0.63) times, 9 eyes had received twice photocoagulation and 2 eyes had received 3 times of photocoagulation. The average laser energy was (96.05±2.34) μV in group Ⅰ and (117.41±6.85) μV in group Ⅱ, the difference was statistical significant (P=0.003). BCVA improved in all three groups at last follow-up. However, the final visual acuity in group Ⅰ and group Ⅲ were better than in group Ⅱ (t=4.607, –4.603;P＜0.001) and there is no statistical significant difference between group Ⅲ and group Ⅰ (t=–0.802,P=0.429). The mean CMT reduced in all three groups after treating for 1 week and 1 month, comparing that before treatment (t=–11.855, –10.620, –10.254;P＜0.001). There was no statistical difference of CMT between group Ⅰand Ⅲ at each follow up (t=0.404, 1.723, –1.819, –1.755;P=0.689, 0.096, 0.079, 0.900). CMT reduction in group Ⅰ was more than that in group Ⅱ at 1 week and 1 month after treatments (t=–4.621, –3.230;P＜0.001, 0.003). The CMT in group Ⅲ at 3 month after treatment had increased slightly comparing that at 1 month, but the difference was not statistically significant (t=1.995,P=0.056). All patients had no treatment-related complications, such as endophthalmitis, rubeosis iridis and retinal detachment. Conclusions Intravitreal conbercept injection combined with macular grid pattern photocoagulation is better than macular grid pattern photocoagulation alone in treating macular edema secondary to non-ischemic BRVO. Combined therapy also reduced injection times comparing to treatment using conbercept injection without laser photocoagulation.
ObjectiveTo study changes in choroidal thickness(CT) with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab treatment.
MethodsThis is a prospective, uncontrolled, open-label study. A total of 31 eyes of 31 patients diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 33 eyes of 33 patients diagnosed with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathological myopia (PM) were included in the study. All affected eyes were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab 0.05 ml (10 mg/ml) and followed up monthly until 6 months. Enhanced depth imaging on Cirrus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CT. The initial CT was compared with the data at 1, 3 and 6 month after treatment, and the correlation between of the decrease of CT at the 6 month and the number of injection times was analyzed.
ResultsIn AMD group, the average CT respectively decreased by (9.68±11.02), (12.58±11.04), (13.84±11.67)μm at 1, 3 and 6 month, and the differences were significant(t=4.89, 6.34, 6.60;P < 0.001). In PM group, the average CT respectively decreased by (2.06±10.92), (3.64±8.78), (3.27±7.20)μm at 1, 3 and 6 month. The difference at 1 month was not significant (t=1.08, P=0.287). While after 3 months and 6 months, the differences were significant(t=2.38, 2.61;P=0.024, 0.014). The injection times were not correlated with the CT decreases at 6 month in both groups(r=0.04, 0.30;P=0.815, 0.099).
ConclusionIntravitreal injections of ranibizumab can induce choroidal thickness reduction for wet age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the risk factors related to vitreous re-hemorrhage (PVH) after anti-VEGF drugs combined with vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).MethodsRetrospective analysis study. From April 2017 to July 2018, 100 eyes of 87 PDR patients who were diagnosed in Jiaxing Eye Hospital and received anti-VEGF drugs combined with 25G PPV were included in the study. Among them, there were 44 eyes in 38 males and 56 eyes in 49 females. The age ranged from 26 to 83 years, with an average age of 57.72±8.82 years. All patients were type 2 diabetes, with an average duration of diabetes 10.84±6.03 years. All affected eyes were assisted by the same doctor with a non-contact wide-angle lens under the standard three-channel 25G PPV of the flat part of the ciliary body. Five to 7 days before the operation, intravitreal injection of ranibizumab or conbercept 0.05 ml (10 mg/ml) was performed. The incidence of PVH was observed. The age of PVH patients, duration of diabetes, vision before operation, average fasting blood glucose and average postprandial blood glucose before operation, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure before surgery, laser treatment before surgery, lens removal during operation, intraocular filling during operation, retinal laser points during operation, and fundus lesions during operation (hyperplasia film, Retinal hemorrhage, vascular occlusion, proliferative retinal traction, retinal hiatus, retinal detachment, exudation, neovascularization) were analyzed to find out the cause of PVH. Spearman bivariate correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were performed on the data.ResultsOf the 100 eyes of 87 patients, PVH occurred in 17 eyes (17%). There were statistically significant differences in the number of eyes with vascular occlusion and proliferative traction during surgery in patients with and without PVH (χ2=5.741, 8.103; P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in age (t=－1.364), duration of diabetes (t=0.538), preoperative vision (t=1.897), preoperative fasting blood glucose level (t=1.938), preoperative postprandial blood glucose level (t=1.508), preoperative systolic blood pressure (t=－0.571), preoperative diastolic blood pressure (t=0.275), whether received laser treatment (χ2=2.678), the number of laser points during operation (t=0.565), whether received lens removal during operation (χ2=0.331), whether found new blood vessels during operation (χ2=2.741) and whether received intraocular filling during operation (χ2=0.060) between the patients with and without PVH (P＞0.05). Spearman's bivariate correlation analysis showed that patients with low vision, poor control of fasting blood glucose levels, vascular occlusion and proliferative retinal traction during the operation were related risk factors for PVH (rs=0.208, 0.229, 0.240, 0.285; P＜0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that fundus vascular occlusion and hyperplastic retinal traction may be independent risk factors for PVH during surgery (OR=5.175, 13.915; P＜0.05).ConclusionFundus vascular occlusion and retinal traction caused by fibrovascular membrane hyperplasia in PPV may be independent risk factors for PVH in patients with PDR after anti-VEGF drugs combined with PPV.
ObjectiveTo analyze the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in aqueous humor of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) before and after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab.
MethodsTwenty-five eyes of 20 PDR patients were collected as the PDR group. Twenty-five eyes of 21 senile cataract patients were collected as the control group. There were no statistical significance in gender (χ2=0.223), age (Z=-1.555) and intraocular pressure (Z=-0.225) between the two groups (P > 0.05). Samples of aqueous humor (0.1 ml) were collected just before and 7 days after the injection of ranibizumab in PDR group. Samples of aqueous (0.1 ml) humor were collected just before cataract surgery in control group. The concentrations of VEGF and PEDF in the aqueous humor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
ResultsThe VEGF and PEDF concentration in the aqueous humor were reduced significantly after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group (Z=-4.072, -4.319; P < 0.05). The concentrations of VEGF and PEDF in the aqueous humor before intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group were significantly higher than the control group (Z=-5.228, 4.706; P < 0.05). The VEGF concentration in the aqueous humor after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group were similar to control group (Z=-1.557, P > 0.05). However, the concentration of PEDF in the aqueous humor after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in PDR group still higher than control group (Z=-2.475, P < 0.05). The ratio of VEGF/PEDF before and after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab was statistically different (Z=-2.058, P < 0.05), but was the same between PDR group and control group (Z=-0.456, -0.844; P > 0.05). The aqueous humor concentrations of VEGF and PEDF were not significantly correlated with each other, neither in PDR group (r=-0.195, -0.174; P > 0.05) nor in control group (r=-0.286, P > 0.05).
ConclusionsAqueous humor concentrations of VEGF and PEDF are significantly elevated in eyes with PDR. Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab significantly decreased the VEGF and PEDF in the aqueous humor after 7 days.
Diabetic macular ischemia (DMI) is one of the manifestation of diabetic retinopathy (DR). It could be associated with diabetic macular edema (DME), which may affect the vision of DR patients. FFA is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DMI, but with the advent of OCT angiography, a more convenient and diversified method for the evaluation of DMI has been developed, which makes more and more researchers start to study DMI. Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF has become the preferred treatment for DME. When treating with DME patients, ophthalmologists usually avoid DMI patients. But if intravitreal anti-VEGF should be the contradiction of DME is still unclear. To provide references to the research, this article summarized the risk factors, assessment methods and influence of DMI. This article also analyzed the existing studies, aiming to offer evidences to a more reasonable and effective treatment decision for DME individual.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of intravitreal injection of conbercept in the treatment of retinopathy of premature (ROP) and to analyze the factors related to the therapy.MethodsA retrospective study. A total of 57 patients (57 eyes) with pre-threshold type 1 (30 patients, 30 eyes), threshold ROP (21 patients, 21 eyes) and acute aggressive posterior ROP (APROP, 6 patients, 6 eyes)) from premature infants by retinal screening in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital during October 2017 and June 2018 were enrolled in this study. All children were received routinely intravitreal injected 10 mg/ml conbercept 0.025 ml (0.25 mg) within 24 hours after diagnosis. Fundus examination was performed 7 days after injection. The interval of examination was 1?3 weeks according to fundus conditions. The mean follow-up was 30.1±4.6 weeks. For patients with relapse or no response to treatment, repeated intravitreal injection of conbercept or laser photocoagulation therapy was given. The retinal blood vessels of the affected eyes were observed. Logistic stepwise regression analysis was used for the correlation test of multiple factors.ResultsAmong 57 eyes, 49 eyes and 8 eyes were treated with 1 or 2 times of intravitreal injection of conbercept. After 24 weeks of treatment, in 57 eyes, 26 eyes were cured (45.6%), 22 eyes improved (38.6%), 8 eyes relapsed (14.0%), and 1 eye aggravated (1.8%). The recurrence time was 12.9±4.5 weeks after the first injection, and the corrected gestational age was 49.0±6.7 weeks. There were significant differences in initial injection time, lesion range among the cure, improved and recurrence eyes (F=5.124, 7.122; P＜0.01, ＜0.01). Parameters of ROP condition, including ROP diagnosis (pre-threshold type 1, threshold and APROP), zone (zone 1 and 2), stage (stage 2 and 3) and plus lesions, were significant different among the cure, improved and recurrence eyes (χ2=11.784, 14.100, 6.896, 9.935; P＜0.01, ＜0.01, ＜0.05, ＜0.01). Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that the recurrence rate was correlated with ROP zone, more likely recurrence at zone 1 than zone 2 (Wald=9.879, OR=27.333, P=0.002). No injection-related complications such as endophthalmitis, cataract and glaucoma were found during treatment and follow-up period.ConclusionsIntravitreal injection of conbercept is effective in the treatment of ROP without obvious adverse reactions. Lesion zoning is associated with recurrence after treatment.
To observe the efficacy of intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) combined with panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) combined with stage I and II neovascular glaucoma (NVG).MethodsA clinical case-control study. From October 2013 to March 2019, 50 eyes (50 patients) with DR and stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ NVG diagnosed in the Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples's Hospital of Xianghe were were included in the study. There were 27 eyes (27 males) and 23 eyes (23 females); all patients were monocular with the average age of 53.5±7.13 years old. Stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ NVG were 11 and 39 eyes, respectively. All patients underwent BCVA, intraocular pressure, and fundus angiography. The BCVA examination adopted the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted to logMAR BCVA visual acuity in statistics. The patients were divided into the Conbercept+laser therapy (combination therapy) group and the laser therapy group by random number table, with 25 eyes. The age of the two groups of patients (t=0.058), gender composition ratio (χ2=0.081), logMAR BCVA (t=0.294), intraocular pressure (t=－0.070), the number of eyes with different grades of angle and iris neovascularization（χ2=1.683, 0.854）were compared, the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). The changes of BCVA, intraocular pressure, iris neovascularization, and angular neovascularization were compared and observed between the two groups one week after the completion of PRP treatment, 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. Independent sample t test was used for continuous variables. Between the combination treatment group and the laser treatment group, at different time points within the two groups and the interaction of the two factors, a single-factor repeated analysis of variance was used.ResultsCompared with the results before treatment, the combined treatment group and laser treatment group had statistically significant differences in the number of angle and iris neovascularization, intraocular pressure and logMAR BCVA at different times after treatment in the combined treatment group and laser treatment group (F=124.211, 65.153, 69.249, 26.848; P＜0.001). After treatment, the combined treatment group was better than the laser treatment group in terms of the regression of eye angle and iris neovascularization, intraocular pressure and logMAR BCVA, and the difference was statistically significant (F=47.543, 25.051, 12.265, 9.994; P=0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.003). At different times after treatment, compared with the laser treatment group, the number of neovascularization in the iris and angle of the eye in the combined treatment group was less, the intraocular pressure was significantly decreased, and the BCVA was increased. The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).ConclusionThe efficacy of Kang IVC combined with PRP in the treatment of DR with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ NVG is better than that of PRP alone.
Objective
To investigate the factors associated with short-term elevation of intraocular pressure after ranibizumab intravitreal injection.
Methods
292 eyes of 292 patients who were diagnosed retinopathy and suitable to receive ranibizumab intravitreal injection were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. There were 157 males and 135 females. 193 patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration and 99 other retinopathy patients. Mean age of patients was 62.75±13.74 years. All subjects underwent systemic and comprehensive ophthalmology examinations. The mean BCVA was 0.68±0.47 logMAR. Mean basal intraocular pressure was 18.1 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). All patients received intravitreal injection with 0.05 ml of ranibizumab (0.5 mg). The intraocular pressure were measured by non-contact tonometer at 10, 30, 120 minutes and 1 day after injection in a sitting position. The patients were grouped by the changes of intraocular pressure 10 minutes after injection. The elevation was more than 10 mmHg as elevation group and less than 10 mmHg as stable group. Analyze the possible related factors with elevation of intraocular pressure after ranibizumab intravitreal injection by comparing the different datum of two groups.
Results
The mean intraocular pressure were 23.8, 20.5, 19.9 and 17.4 mmHg at 10, 30, 120 minutes and 1 day after injection. The significant elevation level were 5.8, 2.4, 1.8, ?0.7 mmHg compared with basal intraocular pressure. Among 292 eyes, intraocular pressure elevation in 68 eyes and stabled in 224 eyes. The age (Z=?0.732), gender (χ2=1.929), right or left eye (χ2=2.910), BCVA (Z=?0.039), diseases (χ2=2.088) were no significant difference between two groups (P＞0.05). The injection number (Z=?2.413, P=0.001), basal intraocular pressure (Z=?3.405, P=0.016) and elevations after injection (Z=?11.501, ?8.366, ?5.135, ?3.568; P＜0.01) were significantly different comparing two groups (P＜0.05). By logistic regression analysis, basal intraocular pressure was positively correlated with the elevation of intraocular pressure 10 minutes after injection (B=?0.844, OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.24?0.76, P=0.004). Patients with higher basal intraocular pressure may occur intraocular pressure elevation after ranibizumab intravitreal injection much probably.
Conclusions
The factors associated with short-term elevation of intraocular pressure after ranibizumab intravitreal injection were basal intraocular pressure. The higher basal intraocular pressure, the higher risk to gain elevation of intraocular pressure after injection.
