Anatomical and functional results of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema patients.

Author: Almudena Moreno Martínez (Spain)

Co-authors: Cristina Blanco Marchite, Antonio Donate Tercero, Francisco López Martínez, Eva María González Aquino, Carlos Cava Valenciano, Sergio Copete Piqueras

Purpose

To assess functional outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME), naïve or without adequately respond to antivascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (AntiVEGF).

Setting/Venue

Department of Ophthalmology. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete (CHUA), Spain

Methods

Retrospective real-world study conducted on consecutive DME patients who underwent treatment with a dexamethasone implant injection and were controlled at 2, 6 and 12 months. Subjects were divided in groups: naïve patients and non-responders to previously treated eyes with antiVEGF injections. Primary endpoints were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT).

Results

A total of 128 eyes (31 naïve) were finally included in the study, with a mean age of 64.07 ± 10.24 years. At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences between gender, BCVA, CRT, type of diabetes mellitus, DME subtype and state of the lens. At month 2, the BCVA (logMAR) changed from 0.4 ± 0.61 to 0.3 ± 0.37 and 0.52 ± 0.50 to 0.52 ± 0.4 in naïve and previously treated, respectively (p<0.05). At month 6 and 12, there is no difference between groups with final visual acuity of 0.52 ± 0.4 and 0.52 ± 0.7 in naïve and previously treated group, respectively (p=0.15). CRT improved at month 2, 6 and 12 in both groups (p<0.05). 21 eyes (72.41%) and 62 eyes (71.26%) improved in 20% the CRT in naïve and previously treated group, respectively, without differences between groups at 2 months. 40% of patients improved in 20% the CRT in both groups at month 6 (p=0.68) and 12 (p=0.83).

Conlusions

In our study, there were no differences in functional and anatomical response to dexamethasone implant in naive patients versus previously treated patients.

Financial Disclosure

We have no financial interest.