title: Comparison between "early" or "late" intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant in branch (BRVO) or central (CRVO) retinal vein occlusion: six-months follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare early and late injections of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients affected by central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) with a six-months follow-up. We assessed whether an earlier treatment start (within seven days from diagnosis) could be more beneficial than a delayed (or late) treatment start (after seven days).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 81 patients (81 eyes) affected by retinal vein occlusion. Best corrected visual acuity was assessed through Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) while central macular thickness (CMT) was measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both types of patients had a positive therapeutic response to dexamethasone, with an increase in visual acuity (ETDRS) and CMT reduction. CRVO patients were characterized by lower ETDRS values at baseline and at the end of the follow-up as compared to BRVO. CRVO patients showed higher CMT values at baseline, after three and six months from injection. No significant differences in therapeutic response to dexamethasone were observed between patients treated early or late, regardless of RVO type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the therapeutic properties of dexamethasone implant are not significantly influenced by an early or late treatment start in patients affected by BRVO and CRVO, although its therapeutic efficacy seems greater in the former type.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sense Organs , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.affiliation: b Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties , Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza , Roma , Italy , and.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basili
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sense Organs , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Autolitano
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical Retina , Ophthalmic Hospital , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascarella
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sense Organs , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sense Organs , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pacella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: BRVO; CRVO; dexamethasone implant; intravitreal; retinal vein occlusion