Relationship between blood-aqueous barrier disruption and ischemic macular edema in patients with branch or central retinal vein occlusion: effects of sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to study the effects of the sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide (STA) injection on ischemic cystoid macular edema (CME) or macular edema (ME) and blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) disruption associated with branch or central retinal vein occlusion (BRVO or CRVO).


METHODS
Prior to, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after, STA injection, central retinal thickness was measured by using optical coherence tomography and the amount of aqueous flare by using laser flare metry.


RESULTS
In the BRVO group treated by STA, the amount of flare was significantly less at 1, 2, and 3 months after injection than in the untreated BRVO group (P < 0.05). In the CRVO group treated by STA, the amount was significantly less at 1 month after injection than in the untreated CRVO group (P < 0.05). In the BRVO group with STA treatment, central retinal thickness was significantly less at 1 and 2 months after the treatment than in the untreated BRVO group (P < 0.05). In the CRVO group with STA treatment, the thickness was significantly less at 1 month after treatment than in the untreated CRVO group (P < 0.05). A correlation test revealed the amount of aqueous flare and the central retinal thickness to be well correlated (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of STA and its time course on CME or ME correlated well with those on BAB disruption. Since there is the close correlation between the BAB and blood-retinal barrier function, the effects of medical treatment on ME associated with BRVO or CRVO can be evaluated by means of the BAB function.
Asano
Sayaka
S
Shohzankai Medical Foundation, Miyake Eye Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
Miyake
Kensaku
K
Miyake
Sampei
S
Ota
Ichiro
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide