Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare and analyze different treatments received by patients during 30 weeks following the initial administration of Pegaptanib sodium every 4 weeks during 24 weeks for Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
Methods: :
A retrospective analysis of 16 patients with DME who received 0.3 mg of Pegaptanib sodium injection every 4 weeks during a total of 24 weeks. Follow-up of these patients for 30 weeks after treatment was performed. At each monthly visit we obtained: ETDRS-BCVA and OCT Macular Volume (MV). Additional treatment (IV Pegaptanib vs. Macular Laser) was performed after the initial 24 weeks at investigator’s criteria.
Results: :
After the initial administration Pegaptanib every 4 weeks during 24 weeks; BCVA improved in 14 of the 16 patients (87.5%). Of the 14 patients that improved VA, 6 (42.8%) improved 10 letters or more. In all, a total of 7.18 letters of VA were gained. The average improvement in MV was of 3,70%.During the next 30 weeks one group received 0.3 mg of IV Pegaptanib sodium. The other received macular laser (8 patients in each group). In laser group, VA dropped 8 letters over the next 30 weeks; the group that received IV Pegaptanib gained another 1.5 letters. After having an initial improvement of 4.38% in MV during the first 24 weeks, patients who were exposed to laser had a worsening in MV of an average of 7.18% at week 54; the Pegaptanib group had an average improvement of 3.03%; these went on to improve another 3.33% at 54 weeks. MV variation in the laser group from day 0 to week 54 averaged a loss of 1.62%. The group receiving Pegaptanib had an improvement of 7.95%, for a difference between both groups of 9.57%. Visual Acuity variation with Pegaptanib had an advantage of 9,3 letters over the laser group from day 0 to week 54.
Conclusions: :
The administration of 0.3 mg Pegaptanib sodium injections every 4 weeks during a 24-week initial period in patients with DME proves to be beneficial with improving and maintaining VA. MV seems to improve significantly during this period. However, patients receiving laser therapy showed worsening of Macular Volume and VA improvement obtained after the initial injection regimen. Patients that continued receiving IV Pegaptanib injections manifested the continuous improvement of VA and Macular Volume.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • edema • visual acuity