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Safety and long-term efficacy of repeated dexamethasone intravitreal implants for the treatment of cystoid macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion with or without a switch to anti-VEGF agents: a 3-year experience

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of repeated dexamethasone intravitreal implants (DEX implants) over 3 years in eyes with macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods

We conducted a 3-year, retrospective, multicenter study that included adult patients with ME secondary to BRVO or CRVO treated with first-line DEX implants. Patients were divided into two different subgroups: patients who received DEX implant injections only (group 1) and those who received DEX implants first and then were switched to anti-VEGF agents (group 2). Primary endpoints were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline to month 6 and month 36. Secondary endpoints included changes in both BCVA and CRT after each DEX implant and adverse events, particularly cataract extraction and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).

Results

Sixty-six patients with a median [IQR (interquartile ratio)] age of 72 [65.0; 81.1] years were included (40.9% BRVO, 59.1% CRVO), who received a median of 5.0 [min, 1.0; max, 10.0] DEX implants over 3 years. Median [IQR] time to retreatment was 4.8 [4.2; 6.0] months. The median [IQR] improvements in BCVA from baseline until months 6 and 36 were respectively + 10.0 [0; + 20.0] letters (P = 0.040) and + 10.0 [− 8.7; + 20.0] letters (P = 0.364) in the whole population. In group 1, the results were similar, whereas in group 2, BCVA significantly increased at M36 compared with baseline (P = 0.003). The median [IQR] CRT reductions from baseline to months 6 and 36 were respectively − 227.5 [− 337.0; − 52.7] μm and − 224.0 [− 405.0; − 83.8] μm (P < 0.001) in the whole population. Results were similar in both groups. The most common adverse events were cataract extraction (70.4%) and elevated IOP (54.5%). No other serious local complications were observed. Treatment was switched to anti-VEGF agents in 16 (24.2%) patients.

Conclusions

DEX implants are an effective treatment for BRVO and CRVO-associated ME over 3 years. It is a valid treatment even though complications remain frequent. However, functional efficacy seems to decrease with time and repeated injections.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank Apolline Mairot for her collaboration and her assistance in collecting data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, 14 rue Paul Gaffarel, 21079, Dijon, France

    Julie Blanc, Clémence Deschasse, Alain-Marie Bron & Catherine Creuzot-Garcher

  2. La Croix-Rousse Hospital, University Hospital of Lyon, Lyon, France

    Laurent Kodjikian

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Desgenettes Military Hospital, Lyon, France

    Corinne Dot

  4. Eye and Nutrition Research Group, CSGA, UMR1324 INRA, 6265 CNRS, Burgundy, Dijon, France

    Alain-Marie Bron & Catherine Creuzot-Garcher

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  1. Julie Blanc
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Correspondence to Alain-Marie Bron.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (place name of institute/committee) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Blanc, J., Deschasse, C., Kodjikian, L. et al. Safety and long-term efficacy of repeated dexamethasone intravitreal implants for the treatment of cystoid macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion with or without a switch to anti-VEGF agents: a 3-year experience. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 256, 1441–1448 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-018-4016-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-018-4016-7

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