Ranibizumab for refractory uveitis-related macular edema.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injections (Lucentis; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA) on refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with controlled uveitis who have failed oral and regional corticosteroid treatment, the mainstays of current medical therapy.


METHODS
Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Seven consecutive patients with controlled uveitis and refractory CME who had failed corticosteroid treatment were studied. One eligible patient chose not to participate and another did not complete follow-up for nonmedical reasons. Intravitreal ranibizumab injections (0.5 mg) were given monthly for 3 months, followed by reinjection as needed. The primary outcome was the mean change in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (VA) from baseline to 3 months, and the secondary objective was the mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) on ocular coherence tomography. Six-month outcomes were also assessed.


RESULTS
At 3 months, the mean increase in acuity for the 6 patients who completed follow-up was 13 letters (2.5 lines), and the mean decrease in CRT was 357 mum. Both VA and CRT improved significantly between baseline and 3 months (P = .03 for each). Although most patients required reinjection, this benefit was maintained at 6 months. There were no significant ocular or systemic adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal ranibizumab led to an increase in VA and regression of uveitis-associated CME in patients refractory to or intolerant of standard corticosteroid therapy. Further studies of this promising treatment are warranted.
Acharya
Nisha R
NR
F.I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. nisha.acharya@ucsf.edu
Hong
Kevin C
KC
Lee
Salena M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body; D055815:Young Adult
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab