[Uniform classification of the pachychoroid spectrum disorders]

Impact of Pachychoroid and DRIL on the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Oedema with Intravitreal Bevacizumab

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab in eyes with diabetic macular oedema (DME) following a PRN (pro re nata) regimen. Additionally, we investigated the effect of the presence of disorganisation of the retinal inner layers (DRILs) and pachychoroid (PC) at baseline on clinical outcome.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 112 naïve eyes with DME that were followed up for 2 years. All eyes were treated with six initial bevacizumab injections at monthly intervals and then received treatment according to a PRN regimen. In case of poor response to bevacizumab, therapy was switched to other agents. Main outcome measures included: best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and number of intravitreal injections (IVI s). In addition, we examined the effect of the presence of DRILs and PC at baseline on clinical outcome.

RESULTS

BVCA improved significantly and CMT decreased significantly during the first 2 years of treatment. The number of IVI s per eye was 11.1 ± 4.8 at the end of the second year. Treatment had to be switched to other agents in 47 eyes (42%). The timing of switching was 12.4 ± 6.1 months after a mean of 9.2 ± 3.3 IVI s. Patients with DRILs at baseline (29.5%) had significantly worse BCVA at all time points before and after treatment, although CMT was significantly lower before treatment and comparable to patients without DRILs during treatment. Patients with PC at baseline (35.7%) had no significant differences in BVCA and CMT at all time points compared with patients without PC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates statistically significant functional and anatomical improvement in patients with DME treated with intravitreal bevacizumab after 2 years. However, more than 40% of eyes required a switch in therapy. The presence of DRILs at baseline had a negative effect whereas the presence of PC at baseline had no effect on clinical outcome.

Eplerenone for the Treatment of Chronic Recurrent Chorioretinopathy Centralis Serosa

BACKGROUND

Chorioretinopathy centralis serosa (CCS) is a common disease that leads to the loss of retinal ion/fluid homeostasis due to decompensation of the retinal pigment epithelium, resulting in fluid accumulation with detachment of the neurosensory retina and/or retinal pigment epithelium. We investigated the effect of eplerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor inhibitor, on chronic recurrent CCS (cr-CCS).

METHODS

A retrospective study with data analysis of 17 eyes (12 patients) between 2014 - 2021 with cr-CCS in whom other methods were not effective, not applicable, or not desired, was performed. Duration of CCS was at least 12 months with at least one recurrence. Each patient received 25 mg (1st week) and 50 mg (from the 2nd week) for at least 3 months. In each case, best-corrected visual acuity and central and peripheral retinal thickness were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Side effects were rated by the patients as "none", "mild" (noticeable but not affecting), "tolerable" (affecting but acceptable because of good effect), and "not tolerable" (then discontinuation of therapy).

RESULTS

There was no significant reduction in central or peripheral retinal thickness. A complete reduction of subretinal fluid was achieved in 5 of 17 eyes (29.4%). In 12 eyes, no effect of eplerenone could be detected, so other therapies were required. Visual acuity change was mainly dependent on the duration of CCS and the degree of photoreceptor damage. Side effects were reported by 11 patients as "none" and 1 patient as "mild" (arterial hypotension). No other side effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

The response rates of therapy with eplerenone were relatively low, and no significant effect could be demonstrated. Eplerenone should not (no longer) be routinely used in the therapy of cr-CCS.

[Avoiding mistakes in anti-VEGF intravitreal injection therapy]

Intravitreal injection (IVI) of drugs for treatment of various macular diseases is now one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide. As mostly chronic diseases are treated, the indications for treatment often mean a continuous treatment over years with a corresponding effort regarding spatial, personnel and financial resources. The diagnosis and indications for treatment are nowadays mainly made by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The ability to clinically assess and evaluate a fluorescence angiography is less practiced, although these are still a component of the indications for intravitreal injections. Therefore, it can happen that despite all diligence patients may receive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment, sometimes permanently, based on a misinterpretation of the macular diagnosis or disease activity and these indications, once made, are rarely questioned or retracted. Therefore, the aim of this manuscript is to point out possible and typical misinterpretations in the indications or continuation of IVI treatment with anti-VEGF by means of case studies and to sensitize for differential diagnoses.