title: Choroidal Thickness Changes After Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The results regarding changes of choroidal thickness following intravitreal ranibizumab injections in the literature are controversial. Vascular endothelial growth factor A is implicated in pathogenesis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The suspected unchanged choroidal layer thickness after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab suggests a possible protection of the outer blood-retinal barrier in the human eye.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate choroidal thickness following the first administration of the study drug ranibizumab into the eyes of naïve wet AMD patients (nAMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open label, 3-month, prospective, single-center, interventional, single-arm pilot study, 20 nAMD eyes were included and underwent three consecutive monthly injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 ml). Vital signs (i.e., blood pressure and pulse), ophthalmic examinations, intraocular pressure, best correct visual acuity and subfoveal choroidal thickness as examined with optical coherence tomography using enhanced depth imaging (OCT-EDI) were assessed at each visit. All patients were evaluated at baseline and at 15, 30 60 and 90 days after intravitreal injection. Ten eyes with fibrotic AMD lesions were evaluated as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all eyes, the choroidal thicknesses (µm) exhibited no significant changes from the baseline visit to the visits at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days post-injection (P > 0.05). The intravitreal treatment with ranibizumab was well tolerated, and no adverse events were registered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Choroidal thickness appeared to be unmodified following the intravitreal injection of ranibizumab into nAMD eyes. Intravitreal ranibizumab injections probably elicit a pharmacologic effect only in the choroidal neovascularization and not in the choroid circulation under neovascular lesions. Clinical Trials Eudract Registration #: 2013-005091-17.
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy. aminnella59@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Angelo Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minnella
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falsini
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbano
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambini
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caporossi
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Foundation, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Savastano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002829:Choroid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000069579:Ranibizumab