[Intravitreal injection of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of diffuse diabetic macular oedema].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the clinical outcome of an intravitreal injection of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema.


METHODS
The study included 8 patients (10 eyes) who received an intravitreal injection of 25 mg crystalline triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema follow-up time was 3.48 +/- 3.25 months (mean +/- SD). The study group was compared with a control group of 16 patients with diffuse diabetic macular oedema who underwent grid laser coagulation of the macular region.


RESULTS
In the study group, visual acuity increased significantly (p = 0.03) from 0.11 +/- 0.09 at baseline of the study to a maximum of 0.19 +/- 0.13 during the follow-up period. Six (85.7 %) of the seven eyes with a follow-up period of more than 4 weeks gained in visual acuity. Towards the end of the follow-up period, the triamcinolone acetonide crystals completely resolved and visual acuity decreased to 0.15 +/- 0.11, which was higher, but not significantly (p = 0.14) higher than the baseline value. Visual acuity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the study group than in the control group for the examinations obtained up to 12 weeks after the injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of 25 mg crystalline triamcinolone acetonide may be beneficial for temporarily increasing visual acuity in patients with clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema.
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim. Jost.Jonas@augen.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Jost B
JB
Jonas
Robert
R
Degenring
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003460:Crystallization; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide