Angioid streak-related choroidal neovascularization treated by intravitreal ranibizumab.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to report the visual outcome of intravitreal therapy with ranibizumab of choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks after 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
Nine patients (age, 58 +/- 4 years; range, 53-65 years) were treated with off-label intravitreal injections of 0.3 mg ranibizumab. Primary outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity changes (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and letters) and optical coherence tomography macular thickness changes.


RESULTS
Mean follow-up was 14 months (+/-2; range, 12-18 months). Mean visual acuity was 0.52 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and 30 letters (range, 0.2-1.2; 0-47 letters) at baseline and 0.37 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (P = 0.014) and 37 letters (range, 0-1.2; 2-55 letters) (P = 0.01) at the last examination. Seven of 9 patients (78%) gained vision (mean, 2 lines), 1 patient (11 %) was stable, and 1 patient (11 %) lost 1 line of vision (5 letters). Two patients (22%) gained >or=3 lines of visual acuity, no patient lost >1 line. Mean optical coherence tomography macular thickness was 262.4 microm (+/-34.4 standard deviation) at baseline and 216.4 microm (+/-19 standard deviation) at the last examination (P = 0.05). The mean number of injection was 5 (range, 3-7); 78% of patients needed to be retreated after the loading dose of 3 monthly injections.


CONCLUSIONS
Ranibizumab can be considered as an effective therapy in angioid streak-related neovascularization, even if in an off-label setting.
Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Cliniche, Sezione di Oftalmologia, Universita di Palermo, Palermo, Italy. maria.vadala@unipa.it
Maria
M
Vadalà
Alfredo
A
Pece
Stefano
S
Cipolla
Carla
C
Monteleone
Federico
F
Ricci
Francesco
F
Boscia
Salvatore
S
Cillino
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000793:Angioid Streaks / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab