AIM: This observational study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-vitreal injections of pegaptanib during a 12-month follow-up period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty eyes (20 patients) affected by diabetic macular edema were monitored. Twenty were subjected to treatment, and 20 were controls. The treatment involved a cycle of three intravitreal injections of pegaptanib (0.3 mg every 6 weeks), at the end of which treated patients were submitted to a monthly follow-up for a period of 12 months. The aim was to evaluate the clinical condition of the eye after therapy and gauge the efficacy of the long-term use of this drug. Specific criteria were used to measure the efficacy and safety of pegaptanib. Regarding efficacy, we considered the following: an average improvement in the power of vision, or visual acuity, of →10 letters (2 lines), equivalent to an average logMAR score of →0.2, and a reduction in the central macular thickness of →250 μm. Regarding safety, we considered the occurrence of undesired eye and systemic side effects correlated to either the drug itself or the injection procedure. RESULTS: The logMAR score for the measurement of visual acuity at T3 (third intra-vitreal injection at week 13) with respect to T0 decreased from 0.7 ± 0.277 to 0.445 ± 0.216, suggesting an improvement, while the mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) score increased from 25.75 ± 13.046 to 34.300 ± 11.770 letters. The central macular thickness was reduced from the initial value of 746.95 ± 293.601 to 334.050 ± 93.997 μm. In seven controls, we registered a worsening both in terms of visual acuity and macular thickness in some eyes, justifying a continuation of therapy in eight eyes of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Pegaptanib proved to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of diabetic macular edema throughout the 12-month followup. To evaluate its long-term efficacy, further studies are required with larger numbers of patients and longer observational follow-up periods.
AIM: This observational study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-vitreal injections of pegaptanib during a 12-month follow-up period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty eyes (20 patients) affected by diabetic macular edema were monitored. Twenty were subjected to treatment, and 20 were controls. The treatment involved a cycle of three intravitreal injections of pegaptanib (0.3 mg every 6 weeks), at the end of which treated patients were submitted to a monthly follow-up for a period of 12 months. The aim was to evaluate the clinical condition of the eye after therapy and gauge the efficacy of the long-term use of this drug. Specific criteria were used to measure the efficacy and safety of pegaptanib. Regarding efficacy, we considered the following: an average improvement in the power of vision, or visual acuity, of →10 letters (2 lines), equivalent to an average logMAR score of →0.2, and a reduction in the central macular thickness of →250 μm. Regarding safety, we considered the occurrence of undesired eye and systemic side effects correlated to either the drug itself or the injection procedure. RESULTS: The logMAR score for the measurement of visual acuity at T3 (third intra-vitreal injection at week 13) with respect to T0 decreased from 0.7 ± 0.277 to 0.445 ± 0.216, suggesting an improvement, while the mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) score increased from 25.75 ± 13.046 to 34.300 ± 11.770 letters. The central macular thickness was reduced from the initial value of 746.95 ± 293.601 to 334.050 ± 93.997 μm. In seven controls, we registered a worsening both in terms of visual acuity and macular thickness in some eyes, justifying a continuation of therapy in eight eyes of the control group. CONCLUSIONS:Pegaptanib proved to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of diabetic macular edema throughout the 12-month followup. To evaluate its long-term efficacy, further studies are required with larger numbers of patients and longer observational follow-up periods.
Authors: Laurence S Lim; Wei Yan Ng; Ranjana Mathur; Doric Wong; Edmund Ym Wong; Ian Yeo; Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung; Shu Yen Lee; Tien Yin Wong; Thanos D Papakostas; Leo A Kim Journal: Clin Ophthalmol Date: 2015-09-16
Authors: Rodolfo Mastropasqua; Lisa Toto; Enrico Borrelli; Luca Di Antonio; Chiara De Nicola; Alessandra Mastrocola; Marta Di Nicola; Paolo Carpineto Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-12-31 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Elena Pacella; Anna Rita Vestri; Roberto Muscella; Maria Rosaria Carbotti; Massimo Castellucci; Luigi Coi; Paolo Turchetti; Fernanda Pacella Journal: Clin Ophthalmol Date: 2013-07-16
Authors: Lisa Toto; Rossella D'Aloisio; Marta Di Nicola; Giuseppe Di Martino; Silvio Di Staso; Marco Ciancaglini; Daniele Tognetto; Leonardo Mastropasqua Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2017-06-02 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Elena Pacella; Loredana Arrico; Valentina Santamaria; Paolo Turchetti; Maria Rosaria Carbotti; Giuseppe La Torre; Fernanda Pacella Journal: Ophthalmol Eye Dis Date: 2014-05-27