Retinal pigment epithelial tears in ranibizumab-treated eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To report the incidence of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears in patients treated with ranibizumab therapy for choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
: Interventional case series.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-four eyes from a large clinical practice were retrospectively reviewed for number of injections and the presence or absence of a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment. Main outcome measures were occurrence of RPE tears, and timing of tears following the last injection.


RESULTS
Patients were observed for an average of 11 months. A single patient (0.61%) experienced an RPE tear and this occurred after the first injection. In eyes with a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment the incidence was 5%. Lesions containing a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment tended to be larger (4.5 versus 3.8 Macular Photocoagulation Study Disc Areas), but this was not statistically significant. (P = 0.63). However, these lesions required more injections on average (P = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of RPE tears associated with ranibizumab therapy is low and may result from a predisposition rather than an effect of treatment. Even so, patients undergoing ranibizumab therapy should be counseled regarding this possible complication.
Smith
Bradley T
BT
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Kraus
Courtney L
CL
Apte
Rajendra S
RS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069579:Ranibizumab