Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi1, Suprava Das2, Suchismita Mishra3
BACKGROUND
Macular oedema due to retinal vein occlusion can be refractory to treatment with
anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents in some patients. We wanted to
evaluate the efficacy of single dose of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the
treatment of macular oedema due to retinal vein occlusion, which is refractory to
anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents.
METHODS
32 patients with refractory macular oedema were included in this prospective,
interventional, comparative study. 20 patients were included in the study group
and received 4 mg / 0.1 ml of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. 12 patients in
control group did not receive any treatment. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
and central foveal thickness (CFT) were assessed in each group at 1 week, 1
month, 2 months and 3 months following injection.
RESULTS
Mean BCVA in study group improved from 1.36 ± 0.33 logarithm of minimum angle
of resolution (LogMAR) at baseline to 0.94 ± 0.49 LogMAR at the end of 3 months.
Mean CFT at baseline and 3 months was 498.65 ± 90.64 and 331 ± 100.57
microns respectively in the study group. The mean baseline BCVA and CFT in the
control group was 1.19 ± 0.43 LogMAR and 428.33 ± 101.75 microns respectively.
Mean BCVA and CFT at the end of 3 months was 1.16 ± 0.45 LogMAR and 424.75
± 98.75 microns respectively. Change in mean BCVA and CFT at baseline and at
the end of 3 months was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.000) between
the 2 groups. There was increase in macular oedema in the study patients after
the 2nd month following injection leading to slight worsening of visual acuity.
CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide is an option in the treatment of macular
oedema due to retinal vein occlusion refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth
factor agents. However, the efficacy of a single injection is short lived. Multiple
injections might be needed to maintain the visual gains.
