title: LuceDex: a prospective study comparing ranibizumab plus dexamethasone combination therapy versus ranibizumab monotherapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The LuceDex prospective randomized pilot trial compared the combination of intravitreal ranibizumab and dexamethasone with ranibizumab monotherapy for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven eyes of 37 patients were randomized 1:1 between combination therapy with intravitreal ranibizumab and dexamethasone (Group 1) and intravitreal ranibizumab monotherapy (Group 2). All study eyes received 4 monthly treatments followed by monthly treatment on indication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the LuceDex study, eyes gained an average of 11.1 and 5.9 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, at Month 12. No more than zero Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters were lost in 88% of Group 1 eyes and 70% of Group 2 eyes. The average number of treatments per study eye by Month 12 was 7.1 in Group 1 and 6.6 in Group 2. Choroidal neovascular membrane size decreased in Group 1 significantly compared with Group 2 (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LuceDex pilot study suggested a possible benefit of adding intravitreal dexamethasone to treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with intravitreal ranibizumab. A larger study is needed to further identify and define possible benefits of this combination therapy.
authors.affiliation: Bay Area Retina Associates, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA.
authors.forename: Tushar M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ranchod
authors.forename: Subhransu K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Stewart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: T Daniel
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Allen Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Verne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000069579:Ranibizumab