The Analysis of Correlative Factors of Visual Acuity with Intravitreal Conbercept Injection in Macular Edema Associated with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Predictors of visual recovery in patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion after treatment with Conbercept

Background

The use of Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to evaluate the predictors of visual acuity-recovery in patients treated with conbercept for macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) has rarely been seen. We collected 26 CRVO-ME patients with different OCT measures at 6 months follow-up to identify the factors that are most strongly correlated with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) post-treatment in CRVO-ME patients treated with conbercept.

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreal conbercept injections for the treatment of CRVO-ME and to determine the major predictors of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) post-treatment.

Methods

A retrospective study methodology was used. Twenty-six eyes from 26 patients with CRVO-ME were enrolled in the study. After an initial intravitreal injection of conbercept (0.5 mg/0.05 ml), monthly injections for up to 6 months were given following a 1 + PRN (pro re nata) regimen. Data collected at monthly intervals included measurements of the logMAR BCVA, central subfield thickness (CST), macular volume (MV), photoreceptor layer thickness (PLT), outer nuclear layer thickness (ONLT), and the disrupted ellipsoid zone (DEZ). The correlation between BCVA, before and after injections, and each of CST, MV, PLT, ONLT, DEZ was analyzed.

Results

The logMAR BCVA in months 3 and 6 post-injection was significantly improved relative to the baseline. In this same period the CST, MV, PLT, ONLT and DEZ were also significantly improved relative to the baseline. There was a negative correlation between PLT and logMAR BCVA at months 3 and 6 after treatment (r = − 0.549, P < 0.001; r = − 0.087, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Intravitreal injection of conbercept is an effective treatment for CRVO-ME. With 6 months of follow-up, logMAR BCVA and CST, MV, PLT, ONLT, DEZ improved. PLT was negatively correlated with the visual function in CRVO-ME patients after conbercept treatment, which may be a predictor of vision recovery in patients with CRVO-ME.

Cytokine and chemokine profile changes in patients after intravitreal conbercept injection for center macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE

This study aimed to ascertain cytokine concentrations in patients with center macular edema (CME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) before and during the period of treatment with intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) and to determine the relationship between these concentrations and disease activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Bio-Plex^® 200 System and the Bio-Plex^TM Human Cytokine Standard 27-Plex, Group I (Bio-Rad, Hercules, California, USA) were used to detect cytokine concentrations in aqueous humour. Experimental aqueous humour samples were collected from 22 patients with CME due to BRVO when IVC was administered at baseline and at 1 month, and control aqueous samples were collected by limbal paracentesis from 16 patients undergoing routine cataract surgery.

RESULTS

Significantly higher concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were found in the BRVO group than in the control group. In the BRVO group, VEGF levels were significantly lower one month after IVC than at baseline. However, the other cytokines did not significantly change during IVC treatment. The decreases in VEGF levels were closely related to the decreases in central macular thickness (CMT) and the increases in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

CONCLUSIONS

Many factors, such as angiogenic, inflammatory and growth factors, contribute to the pathogenesis of CME due to BRVO. IVC had no significant effect on cytokines other than VEGF in patients with CME due to BRVO. The changes in BCVA and CMT were associated with VEGF levels after IVC treatment.

Intravitreal injection of conbercept combined with retinal photocoagulation on macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion

Effects of Conbercept combined with retinal photocoagulation on macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) were investigated. A total of 98 patients (98 eyes) with macular edema secondary to BRVO were collected. The central macular thickness (CMT), incidence rate of complications after treatment and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded. Also the factors affecting visual recovery of patients were analyzed. At 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment, the BCVA in both groups was significantly superior to that before treatment (P<0.05). In the combination group and laser group, the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) of BCVA increased from 0.84±0.47 to 0.34±0.10 and from 0.89±0.49 to 0.45±0.14, and CMT declined from 559.5±152.7 to 267.8±19.8 µm and from 570.3±172.6 to 314.7±18.4 µm. It was observed that at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment, the BCVA in combination group was obviously better than that in laser group (P=0.008, P<0.001, P=0.004, P<0.001, respectively), while CMT in combination group was obviously smaller than that in laser group (P=0.009, P=0.002, P<0.001, P<0.001). Conbercept with retinal photocoagulation can effectively improve the visual acuity and reduce the CMT. The visual recovery of patients after treatment is related to the BCVA before treatment, decreased value of CMT at 1 month after treatment and integrity of external limiting membrane (ELM).