ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and security of intravitreous injection with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for macular edema.MethodsA total of 41 eyes in 37 patients with macular edema who measured up were collected, including 21 eyes of 21 cases in retinal vein occlusion (RVO) group, 17 eyes of 13 cases in diabetic retinopathy (DR) group, and 3 eyes of 3 cases in the other-causes group. Before the treatment, the average visual acuity was 0.07, 0.06, and 0.08 in the 3 groups respectively, and the mean thickness of macular fovea detected by optic coherence tomography (OCT) was (974±394) and (873±213) in RVO and DR group, respectively. Intravitreous injection with 0.1 ml TA (40 mg/ml) was performed on each patient. The average follow-up duration was 8 months after the treatment. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), changes of lens and ocular fundus, and retinal thichness at macular area before and after the treatment was observed and compared.ResultsAll eyes except one had improved visual acuity. The mean visual acuity improved to 0.25, 0.20, and 0.35 in the 3 groups respectively 6 months after the treatment. Alleviated or reducing macular edema was found in all of the patients. The average retinal thickness at macular fovea was (173±41) and (204±76) in RVO and DR group respectively 1 month after the treatment, which had statistical significance compared with that before the treatment (t =8.323, 6.842; P＜0.01). The intraocular pressure was ＞21 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) in 6 eyes (14.6%), which mostly happened 1 week to 2 months after the injection, and was controlled to normal level after partially treated with βreceptor retarder. The cataract developed in 1 eye, and another patient with macular edema after vitrectomy due to diabetes had macular hole 2 months after the injection. There were 2 eyes underwent intravitreous injection with 0.1 ml TA 4-5 months after the first treatment due to the recurrence of macular edema in RVO and DR group respectively.ConclusionsIntravitreous injection with TA is a promising therapeutic method for macular edema that fails to respond to conventional treatment. Transient elevation of ocular pressure is the most common side effect. Further study is needed to assess the long-term efficacy and safety. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:209-212)
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in adults of China has reached 12.8%. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) accounts for approximately 1/4-1/3 of the diabetic population. Several millions of people are estimated suffering the advanced stage of DR, including severe non-proliferative DR (NPDR), proliferative DR (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), which seriously threat to the patients’ vision. On the basis of systematic prevention and control of diabetes and its complications, prevention of the moderate and high-risk NPDR from progressing to the advanced stage is the final efforts to avoid diabetic blindness. The implementation of the DR severity scale is helpful to assess the severity, risk factors for its progression, treatment efficacy and prognosis. In the eyes with vision-threatening DR, early application of biotherapy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor can improve DR with regression of retinal neovascularization, but whether it is possible to induce capillary re-canalization in the non-perfusion area needs more investigation. Laser photocoagulation remains the mainstay treatment for non-center-involved DME and PDR.
Objective The present study focus on the macular branch retinal vein occlusion (MBRVO) with and without laser treatment,and evaluate prospectively whether laser treatment is useful in improving the visual acuity and reducing the macular edema. At the same time to learn the difference of macular light sensitivity before and after laser treatment.Methods Forty-five eyes of forty-five patients with MBRVO and macular edema were randomized to laser treatment and no laser treatment. Follow up examinations were performed every 3 months. We compared the difference of visual improvement, resolution of macular edema between the two groups. The central 30°visual field of 20 patients with MBRVO were examined at pretreatment and 3 months after laser treatment. A comparison of light sensitivity at fovea ，central 10°and 11~30°eccentricity were done between before and after laser treatment. Results Comparison of visual improvement and resolution of macular edema showed a statistical difference between laser treatment and no laser treatment. The mean reduction of macular light sensitivity at the fovea and 11~30°3 months after the treatment has no statistical difference between before and after treatment (Pgt;0.05). But the mean light sensitivity at central 10°eccentricity were significantly decreased 3 months after photocoagulation (Plt;0.05).Conclusion The laser treatment might promote or accelerate visual acuity recovery and reduce the macular edema. There is no significant difference about the efficiency on macular function after laser treatment.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：201-268)
Objective To expolre the factors which affect the size of diabetic,macular fobeal avascss scular zone(FAZ). Methods Making ten years of duration of diabetes a limit,79 nonproliferative and early proliferative diabetic patients were divided into 2 groups.Diabetic retinopathy severity level was diveided into 4 stages,and the macular edema was subdivided into focal、diffuse and cystoid according to fluorescein leakage of foveomacular region.All patients were measured FAZ with Heidelberg scanning laser fluoresceion angiography system and then compaired the size of FAZ of patients with different duration of diabetes、diabetic retinopathy severity level and macular edema status.The results were performed analysis of variance and t test. ResultsThe study shown the size of FAZ was not directly related to the duration of diabetes(t=1.3854,Pgt;0.1);There were significant differences about the size of FAZ of patients with different diabetic retinopathy severity level(F=7.6251,P＜0.01)and macular edema status(F=5.4369,P＜0.01)． Conclusion The size of FAZ was significantly increased in diabetic patients.It was enlarged with the development of diabetic retinopathy severity level,but it was not related to duration of diabetes. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:155-156)
Objective To investigate the effects of Hep-A and Hep-B on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced breakdown of blood-retinal barrier. Methods The mice were subcutaneously injected vehicle, Hep-A or Hep-B 10 mg/kg twice a day for 5 days. Then, 1 μl of 10-6mol/L VEGF were intravitreous injected. After 6 hours, 13.7×104Bq/g3H-mannital were injected intraperitoneally. The mice were sacrificed and the retinas, lungs, kidneys were removed and examined for radioactivity. The result were analyzed using SPSS software to calculate and compare retina/lung and etina/kidney leakage ratio among groups of different treatment. Result The retina/lung and retina/kidney leakage ratio were 0.38±0.04 and 0.21±0.03 respectively in normal mice; increased significantly to 1.05±0.11 and 0.46±0.04 respectively in model mice, both Plt;0.01 compared to those in normal mice; decreased to 0.59±0.06 and 0.32±0.03 respectively in mice treated with Hep-A, both Plt;0.01 compared to those in model mice; decreased 0.54±0.04 and 0.35±0.03 in mice treated with Hep-B,both Plt;0.01 compared to those in model mice. Conclusion Hep-A and Hep-B can significantly reduce VEGF-induced breakdown of blood-retinal barrier in mice. Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：352-354)
Objective To explore the correlation between retinal extracellular edema and vitreous contraction in rabbits. Methods Seventeen pigmented rabbit models with retinal vein occlusion (RVO)was set up by laser photocoagulation. Retinal vascularity area was pathologically examined 1 month later.The vitreous gellength under the gravity condition and the percentage of its weight in the rabbits with extraeellular edema was observed. The mechanisms were investigated by Western immunoblotting of type II collagen.Results Extracellular edema was found in 13 experimental eyes 1 month after the formation of RVO (76.5~) with contracted vitreous gel and released watery liquid, and the a component of type II collagen was cross-linked together to form high-molecular-weight components of 1] and 7, which weakened the stability of collagen net structure.Conclusions Vitreous contraction and retinal extracellular edemawere correlated. The main reason may be the cross-links of vitreous collagen that damages the stability of collagen structure. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：2-32)
Objective To observe the characteristics of the images of optical coherence tomography (OCT) performed on the patients with macular edema, and investigate relationship between the retinal thickness at the central fovea and the best corrected visual acuity. Methods Fourty-seven patients (54 eyes) with macular edema diagnosed by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, three mirror contactlens, or fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) underwent OCT which was also performed on 50 healthy individuals as the control. The examination focused on the horizontal and vertical planes crossing the central fovea to measure the thickness of the fovea. The correlation between retinal thickness at the central fovea and best-corrected visual acuity was analyzed, and the images of OCT in the patients with macular edema were classified according to the macular configuration. Results Significant difference of the macular configuration and best-corrected visual acuity was found between the control and macular edema group. Three characteristics were found in the images of OCT in the patients with macular edema: sponge-like retinal swelling in 20 eyes (37.1%), macular cystoid edema in 26 eyes (48.1%), and serous retinal detachment in 8 eyes (14.8%). The statistical analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the thickness at the central fovea and best-corrected visual acuity of affected eyes (r=-0.569, P=0.000). Conclusions The images of OCT in macular edema include 3 types: sponge-like retinal swelling, macular cystoid edema, and serous retinal detachment. The retinal thickness at the central fovea of the eyes with macular edema was thicker than that of the normal ones, and the thicker the fovea is, the poorer the visual acuity will be. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：152-155)
ObjectiveTo study the changes the changes of cytokine expression the aqueous humor of patients with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO-ME) before and after intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR). MethodsA prospective clinical study. From June 2018 to June 2021, 31 eyes of 31 patients with non-ischemic BRVO-ME diagnosed by ophthalmic examination in Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Hepingli Hospital were included in the study. Among them, 15 males had 15 eyes, and 16 females had 16 eyes. Age was 70 (65, 72) years; the course of disease was 10 (9, 15) days. All of them were first-time patients. All eyes were treated with IVR once a month for 3 consecutive months. At the end of each IVR treatment, 0.1 ml aqueous humor was extracted immediately. The concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in aqueous humor were detected by flow cytometry. The concentrations of cytokines in aqueous humor before and after treatment were compared by Kruskal-Wallis or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Spearman correlation analysis was performed on the correlation between VEGF and MCP-1 expression level in aqueous humor before treatment. ResultsThe concentrations of VEGF and ICAM-1 in aqueous humor were significantly lower at 1 month after treatment compared with that before treatment, and at 2 months after treatment compared with that at 1 month after treatment (Z=4.03, 3.25, 2.50, 3.48; P＜0.05); the concentrations of IL-6 and VCAM-1 increased and the concentration of MCP-1 decreased, but there was no significant difference (Z=－0.21, 1.42, 0.86, －0.53, 0.92, －1.57; P＞0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a strong positive correlation between VEGF and MCP-1 in aqueous humor before treatment (r=0.78, P＜0.001). ConclusionThe concentrations of VEGF and ICAM-1 in aqueous humor significantly decrease after IVR treatment in BRVO-ME; the concentrations of IL-6, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 do not obviously change.
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most common retinopathy that seriously threatens the visual function of diabetic patients, and it represents a major cause of blindness especially among people in working age. Ocular VEGF inhibitors are most often used as a first line therapy for DME, and have revolutionary significance in improving visual outcomes. However, there remain 30%-50% patients who fail to respond to anti-VEGF treatment, and the need for frequent injections brings a substantial treatment burden to patients and society. Novel therapeutic strategies include improving efficacy and duration of anti-VEGF drugs, targeting inflammation, the plasma kallikrein–kinin system, the angiopoietin-Tie2 system, neurodegeneration and other alternative pathways, as well as using subthreshold and targeted laser therapy. It is still challenging in the individualized management of DME to identify non-responders to anti-VEGF drugs and to establish a standardized regimen for the switch from anti-VEGF therapy to anti-inflammatory or other alternative treatment. Further research and development of new therapies, as well as preventive and screening strategies, are needed to reduce the impact of diabetic retinopathy and DME on public health.
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one of the most common retinal vascular diseases causing blindness, macular edema (ME) is often secondary to it, which causes serious visual impairment to patients. Imaging biomarkers in the changes of retina and choroid of ME secondary to RVO (RVO-ME) have important clinical value in the evaluation of condition, curative effect and visual acuity prediction of patients with RVO-ME. Among them, the disorganization of the retinal inner layers, the integrity of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, and the change of central macular thickness are reliable indexes to evaluate the prognosis of visual acuity; hyperreflective foci, subretinal fluid and intraretinal fluid can be used as important parameters to reflect the level of inflammation; prominent middle limiting membrane and paracentral acute middle maculopathy are the objective basis for judging the degree of retinal ischemia; the changes of choroidal vascular index and choroidal thickness also have potential advantages in evaluating the progress of the disease. Accurately grasp the characteristics of biological markers of RVO-ME related optical coherence tomography is conducive to its reasonable and accurate use in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO-ME, and helpful to further explore the pathogenesis of the disease.