[Intravitreal ranibizumab injection for the treatment of idiopathic choroidal neovascularisation in young patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab 0.5mg in the treatment of idiopathic choroidal neovascularisation in young patients, which is the second most common cause of macular CNV in patients under 50 years of age.


METHODS
This single-center, prospective, interventional, uncontrolled, nonrandomized clinical case series study included 13 eyes of 13 consecutive young patients with idiopathic macular choroidal neovascularisation treated with monthly intravitreal injections of 0.5mg ranibizumab. Prior to treatment, measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus examination, fluorescein angiography (FA) and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. Measurement of visual acuity, fundus exam and OCT were repeated each month. A repeated monthly injection was performed in the event of persistence or recurrence of neovascular activity.


RESULTS
Ten women and three men, mean age 34±7.88 years at time of diagnosis, were included in the study. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved dramatically throughout the study, going from 0.74 LogMar at enrolment to 0.45 LogMar at 13 months (P<10(-6)). On average, two intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg) were required during this year. Mean follow-up was 13±7.6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Management of idiopathic CNV in young patients is difficult, due to frequent recurrences despite treatment. Argon laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, and subretinal surgery offer limited results in terms of visual recovery and recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal ranibizumab injection appears to be safe and effective for treatment of idiopathic macular CNV in young patients. A longer-term prospective trial is required to corroborate these results.
Service d'Ophtalmologie, CHU de Béni-Messous, rue Ibrahim-Hadjeras, 16206 Béni-Messous, Algérie. ouhadjourida@yahoo.fr
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D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069579:Ranibizumab