Evaluation of macular vascular density and foveal avascular zone changes by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) after intravitreal dexamethasone implant in diabetic macular edema resistant to Anti-VEGF treatment

Ceylan A., DOĞAN M. E., Demircan A., AKAR Y.

International Ophthalmology, cilt.42, sa.11, ss.3579-3588, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 42 Sayı: 11
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10792-022-02374-7
  • Dergi Adı: International Ophthalmology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.3579-3588
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Dexamethasone, Diabetic macular edema, Foveal avascular zone, Optic coherence tomography angiography, Vascular density
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.Purpose: Analysis of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) width and vascular density (VD) changes before and after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients resistant to anti-VEGF treatment. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients who were regularly treated with at least 5 doses of intravitreal Anti-VEGF (bevacizumab, ranibizumab or aflibercept) for DME and whose DME continued were considered resistant to Anti-VEGF and were treated with IDI for the first time. Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients were included in the study. FAZ and VD values of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) scans at 0, 1 and 3 months were examined. Results: In OCT-A measurements, the pre-IDI superficial plexus FAZ (SFAZ) area (0.350 ± 0.120 mm2) was decreased at 1 (0.292 ± 0.132 mm2, p < 0.001) and at 3 months (0.311 ± 0.153 mm2, p = 0.017). Pre-IDI deep plexus FAZ (DFAZ) area (0.651 ± 0.313 mm2) was decreased at 1-month post-IDI (0.481 ± 0.247 mm2, p < 0.001) while no significant change was observed at 3 months (0.575 ± 0.259 mm2, p = 0.197). There was no significant change in the mean post-IDI total VD rate in both superficial (pre 39.2% ± 2.4; 1st month 39.2% ± 2.6%; 3rd month 39.5% ± 3.4%) and deep retinal plexus (pre 43.3% ± 2.6%; 1st month 43.5 ± 2.8%; 3rd month 43.6% ± 4.6%) (p = 0.408 and p = 0.607, respectively). Conclusion: The study showed that IDI caused a significant decrease in the FAZ area without any change in VD in patients with DME resistant to the anti-VEGF agents. IDI might be related to a decrease in the macular ischemia secondary to diabetic retinopathy.