Dynamic functionality and static changes of retinal vessels in diabetic patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab

Aims: To investigate the short-term effects of intravitreal ranibizumab on retinal vessel functionality in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) by Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA). Methods: Patients presenting with DME were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including optical coherence tomography and dynamic and static vessel analysis, using the DVA before (baseline), 1 week and 1 month after administration of intravitreal ranibizumab. DME subject were compared with diabetic retinopathy (DR) without DME subjects, and with normal non diabetic subjects (controls) matched for age and sex. Results: A total of 45 eyes of 45 subjects (15 eyes for each group) were included in the analysis. In DME patients, dynamic analysis showed a significant decrease in mean arterial dilation from baseline to 1 week. Mean central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) of DR patients without DME was significantly different from baseline and week 1 of DME eyes. In healthy control subjects, CRAE was significantly different from CRAE at baseline and 1 week on DME patients, but not significantly different from DR patients without DME. Conclusions: Using DVA in patients with DME, dynamic analysis showed a significant decrease in mean arterial dilation from baseline to 1 week in DME eyes. A significant reduction in arterial vessels could be demonstrated in DME patients compared to DR patients without DME and controls.