Short-term anatomic effect of ranibizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Eur J Ophthalmol. 2008 Jul-Aug;18(4):645-8. doi: 10.1177/112067210801800427.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the short-term anatomic effect of intravitreal ranibizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Methods: All patients had undergone a full ophthalmic examination. A monthly injection of ranibizumab was performed for 3 months. Indocyanine angiography (ICG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed 1 month after the third-month ranibizumab injection.

Results: Polyps disappeared on ICG angiography in 9 out of 13 lesions (69.2%). Retinal thickness diminished significantly on OCT (p=0.02). In our series we noticed a significant reduction of the percentage of patients presenting with subretinal fluid (p=0.02) and pigment epithelium detachment between the initial and final visits (0.016). In addition, we noticed that BCVA increased significantly (p 0.02).

Conclusions: Monthly intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for 3 months has a short-term beneficial anatomic effect.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Choroid / blood supply*
  • Choroid Diseases / diagnosis
  • Choroid Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Exudates and Transudates
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Injections
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Ranibizumab
  • Retreatment
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Ranibizumab