title: DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT FOR MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION IN PATIENTS YOUNGER THAN 50 YEARS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of dexamethasone implant for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion in patients younger than 50 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with no previous treatment, macular edema with central foveal thickness >250 μm and best-corrected visual acuity between 1.30 LogMAR and 0.30 LogMAR were prospectively recruited for a 12-month follow-up study. After baseline dexamethasone implant, re-treatment was performed starting from the fourth month if a best-corrected visual acuity deterioration with central foveal thickness >250 μm occurred after an initial improvement. The primary outcome was the change in the best-corrected visual acuity. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of eyes gaining at least 3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines, the change in the central foveal thickness, and the number of treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean best-corrected visual acuity changed significantly from 0.60 ± 0.38 LogMAR at baseline to 0.43 ± 0.48 at the 12-month examination (P = 0.03). Eight of 16 eyes (50%) gained 3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines. Mean central foveal thickness improved significantly from 705 ± 202 μm at baseline to 408 ± 196 μm at 12-month visit (P < 0.001). The patients received a mean of 1.8 ± 0.9 implants with 8/16 eyes and 3/16 receiving 1 and 2 implants, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This present investigation indicates that dexamethasone implant can provide a 3-line improvement in half of the patients younger than 50 years and affected by macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; and †G.B. Bietti Foundation for Study and Research in Ophthalmology, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia Parodi
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacconi
authors.forename: Mariacristina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parravano
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019233:Retreatment; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone