Abstract

P 271

Effect of ranibizumab in the untreated eye

Maria-Andreea Gamulescu, Horst Helbig
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg

Objective
In the treated eye, intravitreal anti-VEGF-therapy can lead to stabilisation and even slight improvement of visual acuity, as proven by multiple studies. Some case reports suspect furthermore an effect in the second, untreated eye.
Methods
Retrospective case series of 15 patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections in both eyes because of bilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration. All patients received three injections in each eye, alternating every 2 weeks. Central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured before each injection by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Here, we monitored the measurements of the CRT in both eyes: before first treatment of the first eye, as well as two weeks later, just before first treatment of the second eye.
Results
While mean CRT was significantly reduced in the treated first eye during these two weeks (from 326.87 ± 124.26 µm to 247.67 ± 87.74 µm, p=0.0003), mean CRT in the untreated second eye did not change significantly: mean CRT 357.07 µm (± 166.32 µm) and two weeks later 381.07 (± 165.2), p= 0.331. Overall, 6 untreated eyes showed stable CRT (± 10µm of the initial value), 3 eyes showed a reduction of CRT >10µm (thereof 1 eye >50µm), and 6 eyes an increase >10µm (thereof 4 eyes >50µm).
Conclusions
In this retrospective case study, an effect of ranibizumab in the second, untreated eye could not be proven. Overall, CRT remained stable or slightly increased as would be expected for the normal course of this disease during a period of two weeks.

Copyright: 2009 Porstmann Kongresse GmbH. All rights reserved. Impressum, Disclaimer.