title: Intravitreal ranibizumab for predominantly hemorrhagic choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab monotherapy on predominantly hemorrhagic choroidal neovascularization with foveal involvement associated with age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two consecutive eyes with hemorrhagic neovascularization were treated with 3 monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections. Additional injections were administered according to retreatment criteria during 12 months of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mean of 6.64 ± 1.36 injections was administered. Overall, the mean visual acuity increased from 10.90 ± 6.02 to 12.81 ± 8.34 ETDRS letters (p > 0.05) at 12 months. The 'early treatment group' gained a mean of 2.83 ± 2.24 ETDRS letters (p < 0.05), while the 'late treatment group' gained a mean of 0.30 ± 1.25 ETDRS letters (p > 0.05) with significant differences between the groups (p < 0.05). A progressive resolution of macular bleeding was registered in 20 patients (mean time: 5.3 ± 1.6 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ranibizumab injections can be considered a beneficial approach for the management of predominantly hemorrhagic choroidal neovascularization with foveal involvement associated with age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, the time interval between hemorrhage and the first injection seems to be an important predicting factor of final visual acuity.
authors: Fondazione G.B. Bietti, IRCCS Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Lazzeri
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Figus
authors: Maria Sole
authors: MS
authors: Sartini
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Scarinci
authors: Giamberto
authors: G
authors: Casini
authors: Gianluca
authors: G
authors: Guidi
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Cupo
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Cacciamani
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Fasanella
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Agnifili
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Piaggi
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Varano
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Ripandelli
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Nardi
authors: Mariacristina
authors: M
authors: Parravano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002832:Choroid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D019233:Retreatment; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab