Effects of intravitreal implantation of ranibizumab combined with dexamethasone on VEGFs ILs and clinical efficacy in patients with BRVO ME

Objective: To investigate the effect of intravitreal implant of ranibizumab combined with dexamethasone on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGFs), Interleukins (ILs) and clinical efficacy in patients with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion complicated with Macular Edema (BRVO-ME).

Methods: Seventy-four patients (74 eyes) with BRVO-ME treated in our hospital from February 2021 to July 2022 were randomly divided into monoclonal antibody treatment group (n=37) and combination treatment group (n=37): Monoclonal antibody treatment group was treated with ranibizumab, and combined treatment group was treated with dexamethasone intravitreal implant on the basis of ranibizumab. Ophthalmologic indexes (Intraocular Pressure (IOP), macular foveal thickness (CMT)), Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), anterior aqueous humor VEGFs (VEGF-A, VEGF-B), anterior aqueous humor ILs (IL-6, IL-8) levels and the incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups before treatment and after 3 months and 6 months of treatment.

Results: The mean CMT, BCVA, VEGF-A, IL-6, IL-8 levels in the anterior aqueous humor of the patients in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment and in the mAb treatment group at the 3rd and 6th month of treatment (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in IOP and VEGF-B level in anterior aqueous humor between the groups (P> 0. 05). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Compared with anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody alone, combined with dexamethasone intravitreal implant therapy can significantly improve the visual acuity and ocular symptoms of BRVO-ME patients, and reduce the inflammatory factors in aqueous humor, which has a broad clinical application prospect.

Keywords: Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion with Macular Edema; Ranibizumab; Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Maidina Nabijiang, Master’s Degree and serves as an Associate Chief Physician, and a Member of the Ocular Trauma Group, the Seventh Ophthalmology Special Committee, Xinjiang Medical Association. She has publications as first author including 1 SCI paper and 6 papers in domestic core journals. She has led and participated in six hospital-level and autonomous region-level research projects, and one youth science project. She specializes in the diagnosis of various retinal, macular, and vitreous diseases; she has profound expertise in vitrectomy, retinal laser therapy, and glaucoma laser treatment.