Anti-VEGF therapy combined with cortisone shows potentials in BRVO with macular edema

Combining anti-VEGF therapy with cortisone has the potential to improve visual acuity in branch retinal vein occlusions with macular edema, according to a study. The combination therapy yielded comparable outcomes to treatment with dexamethasone, suggesting it is a viable solution for patients with BRVO-related macular edema.

The study included 30 eyes with branch retinal vein occlusions and macular edema that had not received any prior treatment. The eyes were divided into two groups, with each group receiving a different treatment regimen. The first group (15 eyes) received a single injection of dexamethasone. The second group (15 eyes) underwent 3 intravitreal injections: the first 2 injections consisted of the anti-VEGF medication aflibercept, while the third injection involved 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide (Vitreal S), with a 1-month interval between injections.

The study indicated that both treatment groups demonstrated peak efficacy at the 4-month mark. The mean values for BCVA were recorded as 0.5 LogMAR and 0.4 LogMAR for the respective groups. Interestingly, no significant changes in macular edema were observed between the 4-month and 6-month follow-up periods, with mean values of 361 μm and 390 μm, respectively.

During the study, 6 patients experienced transient raised intraocular pressure approximately 1 week after treatment.

Reference
Darabuş DM, Munteanu M, Preda MA, et al. The Impact of Intraocular Treatment on Visual Acuity of Patients Diagnosed with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusions. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(10):1414. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11101414. PMID: 37239696; PMCID: PMC10217981.