Ranibizumab can be used for long-term CRVO

Visual acuity and central retinal thickness in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) have been improved with intravitreal ranibizumab treatment, according to a study published in Retina.

A team led by Dr Louis K. Chang, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York, USA, conducted a prospective interventional case study on 35 eyes of 35 patients with CRVO. The baseline mean visual acuity of the patients was 44.2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, with a mean central macular thickness of 638 μm. Each patient was administered 0.5 mg of intravitreal ranibizumab at baseline and twice monthly thereafter. Patients who experienced leakage during fluorescein angiography, intraretinal haemorrhage, or macular oedema by optical coherence tomography, received additional ranibizumab.

The mean visual acuity of 32 of the 35 eyes improved by 16.5 letters and macular thickness was reduced to 164 μm after 12 months. At 24 months, 24 eyes demonstrated an improved visual acuity of 17.8 letters and macular thickness was reduced to 263 μm.

The results show that intravitreal ranibizumab significantly improves visual acuity and central retinal thickness in patients with CRVO. There were no occurrences of endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, or neovascularization. The treatment can last for up to 2 years, with a minimal number of side effects reported.