Intravitreal ranibizumab in retinal macroaneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
To present the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) therapy in a patient suffering from retinal macroaneurysm.


METHODS
Case report. An 82-year-old female patient was diagnosed with retinal macroaneurysm of the inferior temporal artery with macular edema. Functional and morphological data at baseline and at 4 weeks, 3 months, and 5 months after the initiation of therapy with two intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) injections followed by focal argon laser coagulation surrounding the retinal macroaneurysm are presented.


RESULTS
Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/50 at baseline to 20/20 at 3-month follow-up and maintained stable at 20/25 through 5-month follow-up. Central retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography decreased from 510 µm at baseline to 148 µm at 5-month follow-up. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated closure of the retinal macroaneurysm at 6-week follow-up. No ocular or systemic side effects were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) therapy may close the retinal macroaneurysm leading to resolution of the associated macular edema and consequently visual improvement. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a retinal macroaneurysm benefiting from treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®). The observed results warrant further investigation.
Eye Center Uzwil, Uzwil, Switzerland. wenkstern@augenarzt-uzwil.ch
Andrea R
AR
Wenkstern
Heike
H
Petersen
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D056687:Off-Label Use; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069579:Ranibizumab