SHORT-TERM FLUCTUATION OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA AFTER INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB INJECTION

Purpose: To examine the short-term fluctuation of diabetic macular edema (DME) after one intravitreal ranibizumab injection. Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with DME received an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (0.05 mL/0.5 mg). Assessment of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus biomicroscopy, MP-1 fundus-related perimetry using follow-up strategy (pattern macula 8 degrees 0 dB with threshold strategy 4-2), and optical coherence tomography central macular thickness (CMT), were performed at baseline and 1 hour, 24 hours, 14 days, 28 days, and 56 days after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. Results: A total of 18 eyes of 18 patients (9 male, 9 female; mean age, 62.28 +/- 8.08 years; range, 48-75 years) who completed the 56-day follow-up were included for analysis. Intravitreal ranibizumab was found to produce significant improvements in mean BCVA and MP-1 sensitivity, as well as reduction in mean CMT, after one injection. This anatomical and functional improvement, which compared with baseline was evident as soon as the 1-hour follow-up (mean CMT reduction: t = 1.7899, P = 0.045; mean MP-1 sensitivity improvement: t = -1.9891, P = 0.0315), and lasted until the 56-day follow-up (mean BCVA improvement: t = 2.26, P < 0.05; mean CMT reduction: t = 3.61, P < 0.05; MP-1 sensitivity improvement: t = -5.21, P < 0.05). Conclusion: These short-term observations give insights into the physiopathology of DME treated with a intravitreal ranibizumab injection. RETINA 29:1274-1281, 2009