title: Dexamethasone Implants in Patients with Naïve or Refractory Diffuse Diabetic Macular Edema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) 0.7 mg (Ozurdex™) on refractory and treatment-naïve diffuse diabetic macular edema.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted in 76 patients (40 refractory and 36 naïve) with visual acuities (VA) of 15-72 ETDRS letters, central macular thickness (CMT) >300 µm and intraocular pressure (IOP) <25 mm Hg. After the DEX implant (±photocoagulation), VA, CMT and total macular volume (TMV) were assessed monthly for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At every visit, VA improved significantly from baseline (p < 0.001) in both groups, but values were significantly better in the naïve group, while CMT and TMV decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and similarly in both groups. The naïve group received more photocoagulations (p = 0.001). There were 7.9% transient IOP increases >10 mm Hg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial improvements in VA and CMT were achieved in both groups, and a gain of 1 ETDRS line was observed in the treatment-naïve group as compared to the refractory group, with a good safety profile in both.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Dos de Maig, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: José Juan
authors: JJ
authors: Escobar-Barranco
authors: Begoña
authors: B
authors: Pina-Marín
authors: Manel
authors: M
authors: Fernández-Bonet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004343:Drug Implants; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone