ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Oftalmologica 2013 June;55(2):29-32

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Treatment of the choroidal neovascularization membranes secondary to angioid streaks with intravitreal ranibizumab

Paoletta M. ¹, Chiosi F. ¹, Boemio G. ¹, Lanzini G. ¹, Pascotto A. ¹, Fabozzi L. ¹, Verolino M. ², Visaggio R. ¹

¹ Dipartimento di Oftalmologia Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli Napoli, Italia; ² Dipartimento di Oftalmologia Ospedale Boscotrecase, Napoli, Italia

Aim: The aim of this paper was to report the short-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to angioid streaks (AS) through a retrospective observational case series.
Methods: Six patients (six eyes) with CNV secondary to AS received IVR injection (0.5 mg). Two patients had been previously treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), and four patients received IVR as first choice treatment. Ophthalmic evaluations included: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) determination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographies. Main outcome measures were BCVA improvement, reduction of leakage from CNV and diminution of central retinal thickness (CRT).
Results: Angiographic examinations showed reduction or cessation of the CNV leakage in all patients. OCT findings demonstrated slight CRT diminution (mean 41.3 µm). All patients showed a BCVA improvement (mean 3.4 lines) from baseline. No injection related back pain or IVR-induced ocular complication was reported.
Conclusion: IVR injection seems to be effective in reducing fluorescein leakage, diminishing CRT and improving BCVA in patients with CNV secondary to AS. Long-term follow-up and larger series of patients are needed to ascertain the efficacy and safety of this therapy.