title: Sequential therapy with ranibizumab and dexamethasone intravitreal implant is better than dexamethasone monotherapy for macular oedema due to retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sequential therapy with ranibizumab followed by dexamethasone intravitreal implant compared with dexamethasone monotherapy for macular oedema (MO) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective interventional study, the medical records of subjects with MO due to RVO who received either ranibizumab followed by dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Group 1) or dexamethasone-implant monotherapy (Group 2) were included. Primary outcome was the proportion of subjects who exhibited best-corrected visual acuity (VA) gain and resolution of MO within 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three eyes were included (17 in Group 1, 16 in Group 2). More subjects in Group 1 exhibited a VA gain of at least 0.5 (LogMAR units hereafter) than Group 2 (29% vs 0%, p=0.044). The speed of VA gain was greater in Group 1 (1.4±0.8 months vs 2.7±1.4 months, p=0.020). MO was controlled in more subjects in Group 1 at all measured time intervals, and this difference was statistically significant at 3 months and 4 months. Subjects with branch RVO experienced VA gain more rapidly if they were from Group 1 (p=0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sequential therapy was found to be more effective than dexamethasone monotherapy in treating MO due to RVO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Lawrence P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Iu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ian Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jacky W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6249-3304
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Raymond L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ian Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004343:Drug Implants; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000069579:Ranibizumab
keywords: Retina