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Regression of diabetic macular edema after subcutaneous exenatide

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to report a case of complete regression of diabetic macular edema after subcutaneous injection of exenatide in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study is an interventional case report. Blood investigations, complete ophthalmic examinations and optical coherence tomography were performed. A 55-year-old female affected by poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with visual impairment due to macular edema in the right eye. The left eye showed mild edema without visual loss. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/80 and 20/20, respectively. The patient was encouraged to improve metabolic control, and the antidiabetic therapy was modified combining exenatide 10 μg subcutaneously twice daily to her regimen of oral metformin. The patient did not receive any ocular treatment. A complete tomographic resolution of macular edema was observed after 1 month and BCVA improved to 20/63. These findings were confirmed for the entire 6-month follow-up duration. No ocular or non-ocular adverse events were recorded. This is the first reported case of complete regression of macular edema in a diabetic patient after subcutaneous injection of exenatide.

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Acknowledgments

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported. This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy

    Valentina Sarao, Daniele Veritti & Paolo Lanzetta

  2. Istituto Europeo di Microchirurgia Oculare (IEMO), Udine, Italy

    Daniele Veritti & Paolo Lanzetta

Authors
  1. Valentina Sarao
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  2. Daniele Veritti
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  3. Paolo Lanzetta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paolo Lanzetta.

Additional information

Communicated by Antonio Secchi.

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Sarao, V., Veritti, D. & Lanzetta, P. Regression of diabetic macular edema after subcutaneous exenatide. Acta Diabetol 51, 505–508 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-013-0506-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-013-0506-6

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