PurposeTo evaluate the effects of unilateral intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) on the ocular circulation of the fellow eyes.MethodsFifteen eyes of 15 patients with macular edema (average age 69.6 ± 11.8 years) were studied. Eleven eyes had diabetic macular edema (DME) and four eyes had macular edema associated with a branch retinal vein occlusion. Each eye received 0.5 mg of IVR. The blood circulation on the optic nerve head of the treated and untreated eyes were determined by laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG, Softcare Co., Ltd) before, 1 day, and 1 week after the IVR. The mean blur rate (MBR) and the relative changes of the MBRs determined as dMBR(%) = 100−(MBR before/MB after) × 100) were evaluated. The central macular thickness (CMT) and the rate of reduction in the thickness (dCMT = 100−(CMT before/CMT after) × 100) were also evaluated.ResultsThe mean dMBR was significantly higher in the treated eyes than the untreated eyes at 1 day (−16.4 ± 17.0% vs 2.31 ± 19.3%) and at 1 week (−12.0 ± 14.6% vs 4.50 ± 25.9%) after the IVR (P = 0.02, paired t tests).ConclusionThese findings indicate that if ranibizumab enters the systemic circulation, the concentration is not high enough to affect the ocular circulation of the fellow eyes.
Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are widely used to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Although these treatments are effective, multiple injections have recently been recommended to ensure that there is a good long-term prognosis. However, sustained intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations have been reported to develop after multiple injections of anti-VEGF agents. We present our findings of a case of uncontrolled and persistent IOP elevation after switching from intravitreal ranibizumab injections to intravitreal aflibercept injections. A 74-year-old Japanese man without a history of glaucoma underwent 22 ranibizumab injections for nAMD and suddenly developed an elevated IOP after the 22nd injection. Although the subsequent medical treatment led to normalization of his IOP, the subretinal fluid under the central fovea remained even after the 25th injection of ranibizumab. Thus, ranibizumab treatment was switched to bimonthly intravitreal aflibercept injections in conjunction with glaucoma medications. His IOP recovered to within the normal range; however, after the 11th aflibercept injection, there was a sudden elevation of his IOP in spite of the continued glaucoma medications. Due to this sustained IOP elevation, his aflibercept injections were suspended for 16 weeks. Because his IOP could not be normalized by a full glaucoma medication regimen, the patient underwent trabeculotomy, which resulted in a lowering of the IOP to normal levels. We conclude that patients who receive serial intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents need to be closely monitored because severe and sustained ocular hypertension can develop.
Intravitreale Injektionen mit Wirkstoffen gegen den vaskulären endothelialen Wachstumsfaktor (VEGF) sind eine gängige Behandlungsmaßnahme bei neovaskulärer altersbedingter Makuladegeneration (nAMD). Obwohl diese Behandlungen sehr effektiv sind, sind in jüngster Zeit multiple Injektionen empfohlen worden, um auch langfristig für eine günstige Prognose zu sorgen. Es liegen jedoch Berichte über einen Anstieg des Augeninnendrucks (AID) nach multiplen Injektionen mit Anti-VEGF-Wirkstoffen vor. Wir präsentieren hier einen Fall von unkontrollierter persistierender AID-Erhöhung nach der Umstellung von intravitrealen Ranibizumab- auf Aflibercept-Injektionen. Bei einem 74-jährigen japanischen Mann ohne Glaukom in der Vorgeschichte, der zur Behandlung einer nAMD 22 Ranibizumab-Injektionen erhalten hatte, stieg nach der 22. Injektion der AID unvermittelt an. Die daraufhin eingeleitete medikamentöse Therapie führte zwar zur Normalisierung des AID, doch unterhalb der Fovea centralis lag auch nach der 25. Ranibizumab-Injektion noch subretinale Flüssigkeit vor. Daher erfolgte eine Umstellung der Therapie von Ranibizumab auf 2-monatliche intravitreale Injektionen mit Aflibercept, begleitet von Glaukom-Medikamenten. Der AID kehrte daraufhin in den Normalbereich zurück. Nach der 11. Aflibercept-Injektion kam es trotz der weiterhin angewandten Glaukom-Medikamente wiederum zu einem plötzlichen AID-Anstieg. Aufgrund dieser anhaltenden AID-Erhöhung wurden die Aflibercept-Injektionen für 16 Wochen ausgesetzt. Da es auch mit einem umfassenden Glaukom-Medikationsschema nicht gelang, den AID zu normalisieren, unterzog sich der Patient einer Trabekulotomie, die zur Rückkehr des AID in den Normalbereich führte. Wir gelangen zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass Patienten, die serielle intravitreale Injektionen eines Anti-VEGF-Wirkstoffs erhalten, aufmerksam überwacht werden müssen, da sich eine schwere und anhaltende okuläre Hypertension entwickeln kann.
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