Efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents on corneal neovascularization: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Corneal neovascularization(CoNV)is the second major cause of blindness.Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)inhibitors,e.g.,bevacizumab,have been used to prevent CoNV.AIM We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to examine the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF in CoNV.METHODS A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases.Mean difference(MD),standard mean difference(SMD),and relative risk(RR)are used to estimate the effect size.RESULTS Nine randomized controlled and three non-randomized trials were obtained.The pooled results demonstrated a significant reduction of CoNV area/Length(SMD=-1.17,95%CI:-1.58 to-0.75),best corrected visual acuity(MD=-0.54,95%CI:-0.91 to-0.17),and graft rejection(RR=0.44,95%CI:0.24 to 0.8)and failure(RR=0.39,95%CI:0.19 to 0.78)rates in the anti-VEGF group than the placebo group.A non-significant reduction of the epithelial defect was also observed in the bevacizumab group compared with the placebo(RR=0.56,95%CI:0.30 to 1.06).Compared with a placebo,the unsynthesizable trials also support that bevacizumab improves visual acuity,CoNV,graft rejection,and failure rates.Trials reporting other comparisons revealed the superiority of combined remedy with bevacizumab compared to other treatments in reducing CoNV.CONCLUSION Anti-VEGF agents,mainly bevacizumab,are an effective and safe treatment for CoNV of all causes and prevent corneal graft rejection and failure in corneal transplantation.

Safety and efficacy of intravitreal anti vascular endothelial growth factor for severe posterior retinopathy of prematurity with flat fibrovascular proliferation

BACKGROUND Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(IVA)injection is known to cause contraction of fibrovascular proliferation(FVP),when present in severe retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).AIM To assess the structural outcomes of IVA injection in the treatment of severe posterior ROP with significant FVP.METHODS It was a retrospective study in which 36 eyes of 18 preterm babies who developed>4 clock hours of FVP in zone I or posterior zone II,were treated with either intravitreal 0.625 mg bevacizumab or intravitreal 0.2 mg of ranibizumab.Favorable structural outcome included resolution of plus disease and FVP without the development of tractional retinal detachment.Secondary outcome measure included either full retinal maturation at follow-up or development of recurrent disease requiring additional treatment.Adverse outcomes included progression to retinal detachment.RESULTS The mean gestational age of the 18 preterm babies was 30 wk(range 27-36),and mean birth weight was 1319 g(range 650-1980 g).Mean post-menstrual age(PMA)at the time of primary treatment was 35.5 wk(range 31-41 wk).All eyes showed regression of plus disease and FVP.5 eyes of 3 babies showed reactivation of disease and were treated with repeat IVA(n=2 eyes)or peripheral laser photocoagulation(n=3 eyes)respectively.16 out of 36(44%)reached retinal vascular maturation at final follow up at 5 years.CONCLUSION There was good resolution of severe posterior ROP with FVP with IVA,with retinal maturity of 44%at 5 year follow-up and a reactivation rate of 13.8%.When the IVA injection is given prior to 37 wk PMA,while disease is in phase 2,it is less likely to cause contracture of pre-existing FVP.

Efficacy of internal limiting membrane peeling for diabetic macular edema after preoperative anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection

AIM:To explore the efficacy of minimally invasive vitrectomy(MIV)with or without internal limiting membrane(ILM)peeling on the treatment of diabetic macular edema(DME)in proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)combining with preoperative anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF)injection.METHODS:Totally 132 eyes(132 patients)diagnosed PDR with DME were included between June 2015 and June 2018 in Tianjin Eye Hospital.The single MIV treatment group included 68 eyes and the MIV combined with ILM peeling group included 64 eyes.Anti-VEGF drugs were injected intravitreally 1wk before the operation and the period of follow-up was 1 to 3y.Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),central retinal thickness(CRT),total macular volume(TMV),macular edema(ME)severity,intraocular pressure(IOP),and complications were recorded.Prognostic factors of visual acuity following ILM peeling were analyzed.RESULTS:The BCVA was higher than preoperative values at 1,3,6,and 12mo after surgery in both groups(all P<0.05).At 6 and 12mo,the BCVA of the combined group was significantly higher than that of the MIV only group(0.52±0.23 v/s 0.64±0.29 IogMAR,P=0.011 in 6mo;0.41±0.25\/s 0.52±0.25 IogMAR,P=0.008 in 12mo).Mean CRT values postoperative were significantly lower than preoperative values in both groups from the 1^(st) month(lmo 397.65±106.18 vs 451.94±118.88 μm in MIV only group;388.88±108.68 v/s 464.36±111.53 μm in combined group;both P<0.05)and decreased gradually.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant at 3,6,and 12mo(P=0.004,0.003,0.00 respectively).The TMV was decreased from the 3^(rd) month in the single treatment group(3mo 11.14±1.66 vs 12.20±2.09 mm^(3),P<0.05).At 12mo,the proportion of eyes with edema that had CRT more than 350μm was significantly lower than before surgery(13.24%vs 77.94%in MIV only group;1.56%vs 81.25%in combined group;both P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the recurrence incidence of macular epiretinal membrane,ME,transient IOP increase,vitreous rebleeding,or traction retinal detachment between the two groups.BCVA after ILM excision was positively correlated with the CRT and ME degree before and after surgery(r=0.430,0.485,respectively;P<0.05).CONCLUSION:MIV combined with ILM peeling accelerates the absorption of ME,improves vision,reduces the postoperative CRT and TMV,and reduces the recurrence rate of postoperative ME.

Macular hole closure following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection in an eye with myopic choroidal neovascularization

Dear Editor,I am Cheolmin Yun,from the Department of Ophthalmology,Korea University College of Medicine.I write to present a case report of a female patient with a myopic patient suffering from atrophic choroidal neovascularization（CNV）and a full thickness macular hole（FTMH）,who was treated with an intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） injection without vitrectomy.

Real-world outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinal vascular vein occlusion in Tibet,China

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF) agents for patients with retinal vein occlusion(RVO) related-macular edema(ME) in Tibetan.METHODS: A retrospective, observational, single-center study. The demographic and clinical data of 90 RVO Tibetan patients(93 eyes) treated with either ranibizumab or conbercept in Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital from Jan 2018 to December 2019 were collected.RESULTS: The mean patient age was 56.8±10.6y, 45(50%) of them were female. The mean living altitude was 3867.8±567.9 m. At the last visit, the best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA) significantly increased(52.2±21.8 letters) in comparison with the baseline(38.2±24.1 letters, P<0.001);while the central retinal thickness(CRT) significantly reduced(245.5±147.6 μm) in comparison with the baseline(504.1±165.2 μm, P<0.001). The 43.0% of the eyes gained≥15 letters, 60.2% of the eyes gained ≥10 letters, and 78.5% of the eyes gained ≥5 letters. No vision loss was noted in 92.5% of the eyes, 4 eyes lost more than 10 letters during follow-up period. The mean number of injections was 2.4±1.8. No severe ocular or systemic adverse events related to either the drug or injection were noted.CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF therapy is effective and safe in Tibetan patients for the treatment of RVO related ME.

Vascular endothelial growth factor trap-eye(Aflibercept) for the management of diabetic macular edema

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the most common cause of visual loss among working age individuals.Diabetic macular edema(DME)is an important complication of DR that affects around one third of the patients with DR.Several treatments have been approved for DME ranging from blood pressure and glycemic control to photocoagulation and more recently the use of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)antagonists.The index review discusses aflibercept(EYLEA-Regeneron Pharmaceuticals,Inc.,Tarrytown,New York,NY,and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals,Berlin,Germany)in the context of other VEGF antagonists currently available for the treatment of DME.A systematic search of literature was conducted on PubMed,Scopus,and Google Scholar with no limitation on language or year of publication.Pre-clinical studies of aflibercept have shown a higher affinity of this molecule for vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)along with a longer duration of action as compared to other VEGF antagonists.Recent clinical trials have shown visual outcome results for aflibercept to be similarly favorable as compared to other available agents with the added benefit of fewer required injections and less frequent monitoring.Aflibercept presents a potential exciting new addition to the armamentarium of current VEGF antagonists available for the treatment of DME and other retinal vascular diseases.However,further studies are indicated to confirm the role,safety,and efficacy of aflibercept for DME.

Bilateral same-session intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factors

AIMTo document the indications, safety and possible complications of bilateral same-session intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections performed in the ophthalmic operating room.

Evaluation of Serum and Aqueous Humor Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Neovascular Glaucoma

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate and correlate between the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and aqueous humor in cases of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) to stand up on if it can be used as a marker for early detection of such cases. Methods: This observational case control study included 60 eyes, divided into 3 groups, group A of 30 eyes presented by cataract of different causes (not diabetic patients and no signs of NVG) as a control group and group B of 30 eyes with NVG due to different causes, group C of the same eyes in group B but after one month of treatment by intravitreal bevacizumab and laser treatment by pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Serum VEGF was estimated in all groups, also aqueous humor VEGF was estimated in group A and B only. In addition glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was estimated in group B;statistical analysis of the results was performed. Results: The study revealed that the commonest cause of NVG was proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in 26 cases (86.7%), HbA1c in group B revealed mean value 7.68% ± 2.75%. Serum VEFG level in the group B of cases of NVG was significantly higher than the control group A (P 0.05). Conclusions: VEGF is considered a good marker for the NVG either in serum or aqueous humor, laser treatment and the use of anti-VEGF are crucial treatment for such cases, and also glycemic control is a must for regulation of the vascular process in diabetic patients for prevention of such ocular neovascularization.

Diabetic macular edema:Efficacy and safety of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the prominent causes of vision impairment in the working-age population in industrialized countries and is related to 1%-5% of cases of blindness in the world. Among patients with diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema(DME) is the major reason of vision impairment and represents a significant public health problem. Previous studies demonstrated the role of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in diabetic retinopathy and DME pathogenesis, and also revealed the efficacy of anti-VEGF agents for the management of these disorders. This review summarizes the outcomes of clinical studies that evaluated the anti-VEGF therapy including pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept for the management of DME. A significant number of clinical trials indicated favorable functional and anatomical results of anti-VEGF therapy for DME. Therefore, these agents should be considered an option in the treatment of DME in routine clinical practice.

Multimodal imaging diagnosis and analysis of prognostic factors in patients with adult-onset Coats disease

AIM:To describe the multimodal imaging features,treatment,and outcomes of patients diagnosed with adultonset Coats disease.METHODS:This retrospective study included patients first diagnosed with Coats disease at≥18 years of age between September 2017 and September 2021.Some patients received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)therapy(conbercept,0.5 mg)as the initial treatment,which was combined with laser photocoagulation as needed.All the patients underwent best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and intraocular pressure examinations,fundus color photography,spontaneous fluorescence tests,fundus fluorescein angiography,optical coherence tomography(OCT),OCT angiography,and other examinations.BCVA alterations and multimodal image findings in the affected eyes following treatment were compared and the prognostic factors were analyzed.RESULTS:The study included 15 patients who were aged 24-72(57.33±12.61)y at presentation.Systemic hypertension was the most common associated systemic condition,occurring in 13(86.7%)patients.Baseline BCVA ranged from 2.0 to 5.0(4.0±1.1),which showed improvement following treatment(4.2±1.0).Multimodal imaging revealed retinal telangiectasis in 13 patients(86.7%),patchy hemorrhage in 5 patients(33.3%),and stage 2B disease(Shield’s staging criteria)in 11 patients(73.3%).OCT revealed that the baseline central macular thickness(CMT)ranged from 129 to 964μm(473.0±230.1μm),with 13 patients(86.7%)exhibiting a baseline CMT exceeding 250μm.Furthermore,8 patients(53.3%)presented with an epiretinal membrane at baseline or during follow-up.Hyper-reflective scars were observed on OCT in five patients(33.3%)with poor visual prognosis.Vision deteriorated in one patient who did not receive treatment.Final vision was stable in three patients who received laser treatment,whereas improvement was observed in one of two patients who received anti-VEGF therapy alone.In addition,8 of 9 patients(88.9%)who received laser treatment and conbercept exhibited stable or improved BCVA.CONCLUSION:Multimodal imaging can help diagnose adult-onset Coats disease.Anti-VEGF treatment combined with laser therapy can be an option for improving or maintaining BCVA and resolving macular edema.The final visual outcome depends on macular involvement and the disease stage.

Volumetric fluid analysis of fixed monthly anti-VEGF treatment in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

·AIM:To evaluate visual outcomes and changes in fluid after administering monthly anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)injections to treat neovascular agerelated macular degeneration(n AMD)with subretinal fluid(SRF)and pigment epithelial detachment(PED).·METHODS:This prospective study included eyes with n AMD previously treated with as-needed anti-VEGF injections.The patients were treated with six monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.Quantitative volumetric segmentation analyses of the SRF and PED were performed.The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),and SRF and PED volumes.·RESULTS:Twenty eyes of 20 patients were included in this study.At the 6-month follow-up,BCVA and PED volume did not change significantly(P=0.110 and 0.999,respectively)but the mean SRF volume decreased from 0.53±0.82 mm3 at baseline to 0.08±0.23 mm3(P=0.002).The absorption rate of the SRF volume was negatively correlated with the duration of previous antiVEGF treatment(P=0.029).Seven of the 20 eyes(35%)showed a fluid-free macula and significant improvement in BCVA(P=0.036)by month 6.·CONCLUSION:Quantifying the SRF can precisely determine the patient’s responsiveness to anti-VEGF treatment of n AMD.

Long-term outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment with 5+PRN regimen for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion

AIM:To assess the long-term outcomes of treating macular edema(ME)associated with central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO)with a regimen of“5+pro re nata(PRN)”.METHODS:This retrospective study included 27 eyes of 27 patients with ME associated with non-ischemic CRVO(non-iCRVO group,n=15)and ischemic CRVO(iCRVO group,n=12).The eyes were treated with five consecutive intravitreal injections of conbercept or ranibizumab,followed by reinjections as needed or PRN.Retinal laser photocoagulation or intravitreal dexamethasone implants(DEX)were implemented in both groups when necessary.The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA,logMAR)and central retinal thickness(CRT)were recorded at baseline,at 1,2,3,4,5,6,and 12mo,and at the final visit.The efficacy rates of BCVA and CRT before and after treatment were calculated.The number of injections at each visit and the incidence of adverse events were also recorded.RESULTS:The patients,aged 59.4±15.1y,were followed up for 24.7±8.8mo(range:15-42mo).After treatment,BCVA improved significantly from 1.04±0.56 logMAR at baseline to 0.59±0.36 logMAR(P=0.038)at the final visit in all patients.Both the non-iCRVO and the iCRVO groups achieved improved BCVA compared to the baseline at all visit points,but there was no statistical significance(P=0.197 and 0.33,respectively).The mean CRT was statistically reduced compared to baseline at all visit points in all the eyes and in both groups(all P<0.001).The apparent effective rate was 22.22% for BCVA and 37.04% for CRT after the first injection,48.15%for BCVA and 62.96% for CRT after 5 consecutive injections,and 74.08% for BCVA and 100% for CRT at the end of follow up.The average number of injections in all patients was 9.0±2.4 at 12mo and 14.9±8.1 finally with no statistical significance between both groups(P>0.05).Laser treatment was applied to all eyes in the iCRVO group,while only 5 patients in the noniCRVO group.Six patients in the non-iCRVO group and 3 patients in the iCRVO group had a drug switch.DEX was applied to 4 eyes in the non-iCRVO group and 5 eyes in the iCRVO group.CONCLUSION:The 5+PRN anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)regimen is found to be safe and effective for both iCRVO and non-iCRVO,especially in the iCRVO group.The best regimen for such patients needs to be further investigated.Adjuvant laser therapy and DEX are necessary in some cases.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ultrasonic cycloplasty vs valve implantation and anti-VEGF for the treatment of fundus disease-related neovascular glaucoma

·AIM: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasonic cycloplasty(UCP) vs Ahmed glaucoma drainage valve implantation(ADV) in addition to intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) for treatment of fundus disease-related neovascular glaucoma(NVG).·METHODS: A total of 43 patients(45 eyes) with NVG secondary to fundus diseases underwent anti-VEGF combined with UCP or ADV from August 2020 to March 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Of them, 14 patients(15 eyes) were treated with both UCP and anti-VEGF as the UCP group and 29 patients(30 eyes) treated with both ADV and anti-VEGF as the ADV group. The success of the treatment was defined as intraocular pressure(IOP) between 11-20 mm Hg with or without using IOP-lowering drugs. IOP measurement, IOP lowering drugs at baseline and follow-ups period and complications were recorded.·RESULTS: The average age was 63.03±9.95 and 52.27±12.89y in ADV and UCP groups, respectively(P=1.947). The fundus pathology included proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 42 eyes and retinal vein occlusion in 3 eyes. All eyes in both groups achieved successful treatment at 3mo. While the success rate was 90.0%(27/30) in the ADV group and 86.7%(13/15) in the UCP group at the last follow-up of 6mo(P>0.05). IOP was significantly lower with reduction of drug use than the baseline in both groups(both P<0.05). And the ADV group needed fewer anti-glaucoma drops than the UCP group from 1d to 3mo. The comfort scores of patients in the ADV group were significantly lower than those in the UCP group in the first week after the operation(P<0.05).·CONCLUSION: UCP is an alternative to the ADV with the same efficacy but non-invasive for the treatment of NVG.

Retinal laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF for hemorrhagic retinal arterial microaneurysm

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of retinal laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF)for hemorrhagic retinal arterial macroaneurysm(RAM).METHODS:This was a retrospective clinical study.Patients with hemorrhagic RAM were divided into 4 groups defined by different treatments:a retinal laser photocoagulation therapy monotherapy group,an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection monotherapy group,a laser and anti-VEGF combination therapy group,and an observation group.Visual acuity(VA),central macular thickness(CMT),and retinal hemorrhage area(RHA)were collected.RESULTS:Forty-seven eyes of 47 patients were enrolled.VA improved and had a significant difference between baseline and final in each treatment group(logMAR;laser group:1.90±0.53 vs 1.05±0.63,P<0.001;anti-VEGF group:1.75±0.63 vs 1.12±0.54,P=0.009;combination group:1.76±0.38 vs 1.01±0.52,P<0.001);however,VA decreased and had no significant difference in observation group(1.63±0.51 vs 1.76±0.61,P=0.660).CMT decreased and had a significant difference between baseline and final in each group(laser group:815.16±310.83 vs 252.05±83.90μm,P<0.001;anti-VEGF group:725.00±290.79 vs 203.56±69.89μm,P=0.001;combination group:595.50±186.51 vs 253.13±55.06μm,P=0.001;observation group:758.88±195.65 vs 267.00±120.90μm,P=0.001).RHA were 28.99±28.15,25.94±11.58,19.64±8.97,and 27.45±13.76 mm^(2) in laser group,anti-VEGF group,combination group and observation group,respectively.RHA was statistically correlated with final VA(P=0.032)in the observation group.CONCLUSION:Both laser and anti-VEGF treatments are effective for hemorrhagic RAM.Combination therapy reduces the number of injections of anti-VEGF.RHA is a visual prognosis predictor in the natural history of hemorrhagic RAM.

Progress of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for ocular neovascular disease： benefits and challenges

publication. Study selection Clinical trials and case studies presented at medical conferences and published in peer-reviewed literature in the past decade were reviewed. Results Anti-VEGF agents have manifested great potential and promising outcomes in treating ocular neovascularization, though some of them are still used as off-label drugs. Intravitrea~ injection of anti-VEGF agents could be accompanied by devastating ocular or systemic complications, and intimate monitoring in both adult and pediatric population are warranted. Future directions should be focused on carrying out more well-designed large-scale controlled trials, promoting sustained duration of action, developing safer and more efficient generation of anti-VEGF agents. Conclusions Anti-VEGF treatment has proved to be beneficial in treating both anterior and posterior neovascular ocular diseases. However, more safer and affordable antiangiogenic agencies and regimens are warranted to be explored.

An efficacy analysis of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for choroidal neovascularization secondary to multifocal choroiditis and comparison with wet age-related macular degeneration

Objective： To evaluate the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） on juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization （CNV） secondary to multifocal choroiditis （MFC） and wet age-related macular degeneration （AMD）. Methods： In this retrospective, comparative study, 20 unique eyes with CNV were divided into two groups： 10 patients affected by MFC and 10 patients diagnosed with wet AMD. They all received local intravitreal （Ivr） injections of ranibizumab, with 6 months of follow-up. Retreatment injections were performed based on findings suggestive of active neovascularization. Results： Significant improvements were observed in the juxtafoveal CNV lesions, and average central macular thickness decreased in both groups following the anti-VEGF therapy （P〈0.05）. The average number of injections used in MFC patients was 1.6, while three injections on average were used in wet AMD patients （Z=-2.844, P=0.009）. Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly improved in MFC patients after anti-VEGF therapy （P〈0.05）, and there was no significant difference in wet AMD patients between before anti-VEGF therapy and 6 months later （P〉0.05）. Conclusions： IVT ranibizumab resulted in good clinical outcomes for juxtafoveal CNV secondary to MFC and wet AMD, but the average number of injections used in MFC was fewer than that used in wet AMD over a 6-month observation period. Compared with the wet AMD group, visual acuity was obviously improved in the MFC group at 6 months.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor： the future treatment of choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia

-yopia is the most common refractive disorder. High .myopia affects 27%-33% of all myopic eyes inAsia.1,2 ;The pathologic myopia （PM） is the most severe vision-threatening phenotype of high myopia.3 It is also the second most common cause of choroidal neovascularization （CNV） in Asia. Unlike age-related macular degeneration （AMD） which mostly effecting elders, PM causes severe vision loss in young adults, resulting in a significant impairment of their working ability.4 PM has become the second leading cause of low vision and blindness particularly among those aged at 40-49 years in some Asia countries.

Dexamethasone implant for refractory macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy,timing of retreatment and safety of dexamethasone(DEX)implant on macular edema(ME)secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DME)and retinal vein occlusion(RVO-ME)patients who were refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)treatment.METHODS:This retrospective study included 37 eyes received at least one DEX implant treatment for DME or RVO-ME between January 1,2019,and January 1,2023.These refractory DME and RVO-ME cases received at least 5 anti-VEGF injections and failure to gain more than 5 letters or a significant reduction in central retinal thickness(CRT).The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and CRT were measured at baseline,and at 1,3,4 and 6mo post-DEX implant injection.Adverse events such as elevated intraocular pressure(IOP)and cataract were recorded.RESULTS:For RVO cases(n=22),there was a significant increase in BCVA from 0.27±0.19 to 0.35±0.20 at 6mo post-DEX injection(P<0.05)and CRT decreased from 472.1±90.6 to 240.5±39.0μm at 6mo(P<0.0001).DME cases(n=15)experienced an improvement in BCVA from 0.26±0.15 to 0.43±0.20 at 6mo post-DEX implant injection(P=0.0098),with CRT reducing from 445.7±55.7 to 271.7±34.1μm at 6mo(P<0.0001).Elevated IOP occurred in 45.9% of patients but was well-controlled with topical medications.No cases of cataract or other adverse events were reported.CONCLUSION:DEX implants effectively improve BCVA and reduce CRT in refractory DME and RVO-ME.Further research with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods is needed to confirm these findings and assess long-term outcomes.

Extended survival with metastatic pancreatic cancer under fruquintinib treatment after failed chemotherapy:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant disease.After decades of treatment progress,the current five-year survival rate for patients is still less than 10%.For later-line treatment,the treatment options are even more limited.Anti-angiogenic drugs can improve progression-free survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.Preclinical data show that fruquintinib might improve the prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer by targeting angiogenesis and lymphopoiesis,improving the abnormal vascular structure,and modulating the tumour immune microenvironment.CASE SUMMARY We present two cases of third-line fruquintinib monotherapy that brought an extraprolonged progress-free survival(PFS)of 10 months.Patient 1 took adjuvant gemcitabine-based and first-line nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy and then used local radiotherapy combined with programmed cell death 1 receptor(PD-1).Each line lasted approximately 7 months.Moreover,the patient took third-line fruquintinib,which was followed by stable disease for 10 months,during which no additional adverse effect was observed.The patient later refused to take fruquintinib due to difficulty urinating and lower abdominal pain after the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection.The patient died in February 2023.Patient 2 also took two prior lines of chemotherapy and then local radiotherapy combined with S-1.After confirmed disease progression,the patient experienced a continuous partial response after using fruquintinib monotherapy in the third line.After the patient had COVID-19 in December 2022,fruquintinib was discontinued.The patient died in January 2023 due to disease progression.CONCLUSION Both cases achieved a PFS benefit from later-line single-agent fruquintinib therapy.With its better safety profile,fruquintinib may be worth exploring and studying in more depth as a later-line treatment for pancreatic cancer patients.

Pharmacological adjuvants for diabetic vitrectomy surgery

Diabetic vitrectomy is a highly intricate surgical procedure performed during the advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy(DR).It is used to treat conditions such as tractional or combined retinal detachment,vitreous hemorrhage,and subhyaloid hemorrhage,which are all severe manifestations of proliferative DR.The results of the surgery are uncertain and variable.Vitreoretinal surgery has made significant progress since the early stages of vitrectomy.In the past ten years,advancements in intravitreal pharmacotherapy have emerged,offering new possibilities to improve the surgical results for our patients.Within the realm of medical terminology,an"adjunct"refers to a pharmaceutical or substance employed to aid or expedite the primary therapeutic intervention for a particular ailment.Their introduction has broadened the range of therapeutic choices that are accessible prior to,during,and following surgical procedures.This review article will specifically analyze the pharmacological adjuncts used in diabetic vitrectomy surgery,with a focus on their role in facilitating or aiding specific steps of the procedure.The implementation of this system of categorization offers benefits to the surgeon by allowing them to foresee potential difficulties that may occur during the surgical procedure and to choose the appropriate pharmacological agent to effectively tackle these challenges,thus enhancing surgical success rates.