title: INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS OF ZIV-AFLIBERCEPT FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic macular edema is the leading cause of blindness in young adults in developed countries. Beyond metabolic control, several therapies have been studied such as laser treatment and intravitreal injections of corticosteroids or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. In terms of public health the long-term treatment with the current available drugs is very expensive and new therapies with the same or better effect should be investigated. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of ziv-aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven consecutive patients with diabetic macular edema were enrolled. A complete examination, including full-field electroretinography, visual acuity, central retinal thickness, and evaluation of systemic and ocular complications, was performed before and at 24 weeks after intravitreal injections of ziv-aflibercept. The seven patients were submitted to six consecutive intravitreal injections of ziv-aflibercept with a 4-week interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in the amplitude or implicit time of any electroretinography component after intravitreal injections of ziv-aflibercept, and no systemic or ocular complication was observed. The improvement of visual acuity was significant at 24 weeks (P < 0.05). The central retinal thickness significantly decreased during the course of 24 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal injections of ziv-aflibercept seem to be a safe and effective treatment option for diabetic macular edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Costa de
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: João Rafael de Oliveira
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Michel Eid
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: Carsten H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Eduardo Büchele
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533178:aflibercept; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor