Objective To observe the inhibitory effects of construction of complement factor (CFB)small interference RNA (siRNA) on choroidal neovascularization（CNV）induced by photocoagulation in rats.Methods We constructed an expression vector of CFBsiRNA by cutting CFBsiRNA and plasmid pRNATU61/Neo. Experimental CNV was induced by photocoagulation in 42 Brown Norway rats. After the model was set up, the rats were randomly divided into tail intravenous injection, vitreous injection, subretinal injection, and control group; each group except the control one had a corresponding blank plasmid control group. CFBsiRNA was injected 1, 3, and 5 days respectively after photocoagulation in the injection groups; the dosage was 50, 20, and 10 mu;g in tail intravenous injection, vitreous injection, and subretinal injection group respectively, while no injection was give to the control group after photocoagulation. Before and 14 days after photocoagulation, fundus fluorescein angiograoph (FFA) was performed and CNV development was judged by the leakage; the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and factor Ⅷ were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The leakage of fluorescein was obvious lower in tail intravenous injection group than that in the control group (chi;2=15.1620,Plt;0.05). The expression of VEGF and factor VIII in tail intravenous injection group at different time points after photocoagulation didnprime;tdiffer much (F=20.35,18.33; Pgt;0.05); while was apparently lower than that in the other groups at different time points (F=77.96,55.68; Plt;0.05).All of the groups, except tail intravenous injection group, had higher expression of VEGF and factor VIII 14 days after photocoagulation compared with that 7 days after photocoagulation (F=60.89, 61.12; Plt;0.05).Conclusions Constructed CFBsiRNA can inhibite CNV by downregulating the expression of VEGF and factor Ⅷ.
Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of photodynamic therapy（PDT）on choroidal neovascularization（CNV）with or without cystoid macular edema（CME）in patients with wet agerelated macular degeneration（AMD）. Methods The clinical data of 54 patients (54 eyes) with wet AMD who had undergone the standard PDT，including 16 patients（21 eyes）with CME and 28 patients（33 eyes）without CME were retrospectively analyzed. The visual acuity and BFT of patients were examined by early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) and optical coherence tomography（OCT）before and per three months after PDT. The follow up was 3-18 months with the mean of 8.3 months.Results At the last time of follow up, in CME group，ETDRS letter score was（29.429plusmn;17.907）and the BFT was （316.429plusmn;77.161）mu;m，compared with that before the treatment, the difference were statistically significant (t=-0.389，2.246；P＝0.701，0.019). In nonCME group, ETDRS letter score was (48.121plusmn;17.911) and the BFT was (244.667plusmn;37.619) mu;m, compared with that before the treatment, the difference were statistically significant (t=-3.424，6.880；P＝0.002，0.000). There were statistical significance for the change of ETDRS letter score and BFT between the two groups (t=-2.194，2.212；P＝0.033，0.031）). Conclusions Therapeutic effect of PDT on CNV with CME was better than without CME in patients with wet AMD.
Up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is demonstrated to be a key role in formation process of intraocular neovascularization. Anti-VEGF treatment is the breakthrough of intraocular neovascular diseases therapy. Intrav itreal injection of antineovascularization drug looks to be an effective method on ocular neovascular diseases which with the advantages of good biocompatibility, low prices and longer intravitreal half-time etc. However, at present, it lack of multi-center study; the long-term efficacy and the systematic safety needs the further clinical verification. Various types of CNV showed the different therapeutic reactions to either PDT or Anti-VEGF agent, the treatment methods for exudative AMD include laser, PDT, and drug like Triamcinolone Acetonide，several anti-VEGF preparations. Therefore, understanding the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD and choosing a reasonable therapeutic methods are necessary. We should try to explore a safe, effective, economic, new approach. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：157-159）
Objective To evaluate short-term effects of a single photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment with visudyne (CIBA Vision Corp.) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-ralated macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Thirty cases (35 eyes) diagnosed as AMD patients with classic CNV were treated with PDT. The data of visual acuity testing, fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optic coherence tomography （OCT) were used to evaluate the effects of a single treatment of PDT before and 1 week, 1 ,3 month after treatment. Results The visual acuity of 34 eyes were stable or improved in 3 months follow-up；and the visual acuity of 1 eye was decreased. Decrease or dispearance of fluorescein leakage from CNV was noted in 19 eyes. No serious complication occurred. Conclusion Single treatment of PDT for CNV in AMD can achieve short-term decrease or cessation of fluorescein leakage from CNV without loss of visual acuity. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 171-174)
Objective To assess the effectiveness of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for the treatment of central exudative chorioretinopathy. Methods Tweenty-nine eyes with central exudative chorioretinopathy were treated with Iris 810 nm diode laser TTT. The laser beam size was 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mm with power settings between 80-300 mW and treatment time 60 sec. The follow up periods were wihzin 4-40 weeks. The therapeutic effect was accessed by visual acuity examination,dinect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein or indocyanine green angiography. Results The visual acuity improved in 8 eyes (28%), remained no change in 19 eyes (65%) and decreased in 2 eyes (7%). Choroidal neovascularization were closed in 12 eyes in fundus angiography. The symptoms alleviated in 10 patients. Conclusion Transpupillary thermotherapy is a potential treatment for the central exudative chorioretinopathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 184-186)
Pathological myopia can induce choroidal neovascularization (PM-CNV). The potential risk factors include ageing, long axial length of the eyeball, thinning of subfoveal choroidal thickness, fundus atrophy spot and lacquer crack. These factors may induce atrophy of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) and hypoxia, resulting in vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) secretion by outer retina. The lesion type, location and activity of PM-CNV can be determined by fundus fluorescein angiography. The features of PM-CNV on optical coherence tomography include strong reflective area close to RPE with very small amount of subretinal fluid (active stage), surface strong reflection with signal attenuation area (scar stage) and flat lesion and chorioretinal atrophy (atrophy stage). Photodynamic therapy and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs are major treatments for PM-CNV, the latter is more commonly used now. However, more large randomized controlled studies are required to explore the treatment regimen (such as frequency, indications for repeated or termination of treatment) and the efficacy factors further.
Interleukin-18 is an inactive precursor which lacks a signal peptide, it has a role in regulating retinal pathological angiogenesis. It also inhibits experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) via interferon-γand thrombospondin-1. Currently little is known about its mechanisms of inhibition for CNV, may be speculated to be due to effects of anti-angiogenesis, down-regulates vascular permeability and lower vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels via directly acting on the vascular endothelial cell and epithelial cells. Exogenous administration of mature recombinant interleukin-18 has no adverse effect on retinal pigment epithelial cell viability. In addition, the anti-VEGF role of interleukin-18 is tested to be safe and effective for humans. Interleukin-18 alone or in combination with anti-VEGF shows to be a good prospect for improving the prognosis of experimental CNV. However, more large clinical studies are required to confirm the exact efficacy of interleukin-18 for CNV.
Objective To compare the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and bevacizumab in the treatment of pathological myopia choroidal neovascularization (PM-CNV). Methods It is a retrospective case study. Seventy-nine patients (79 eyes) with PM-CNV were enrolled in this study. There were 26 males (26 eyes) and 53 females (53 eyes), with the mean age of (30.77±5.53) years. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, slit lamp microscope, fundus color photography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. BCVA was recorded as logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). The central retinal thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT). The eyes were divided into bevacizumab treatment group (38 eyes) and ranibizumab treatment group (41 eyes). There was no difference of the mean logMAR BCVA, intraocular pressure and CMT between two groups (t=−0.467, −1.983, 1.293;P=0.642, 0.051, 0.200). The eyes in bevacizumab treatment group were treated with bevacizumab 0.05 ml (1.25 mg), and the eyes in ranibizumab treatment group were treated with ranibizumab 0.05 ml (0.5 mg). Times of injection between two groups were compared. The changes of intraocular pressure were observed at 1, 7 days and 1 month after treatment. The changes of logMAR BCVA and CMT at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment and systemic adverse reactions occur were compared. Results At the 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment, the mean logMAR BCVA of the bevacizumab treatment group and the ranibizumab treatment group was significantly improved than that before treatment (F=132.374,P＜0.01). There was no significant difference in the mean logMAR BCVA at different time points between the two groups (F=0.095,P=0.759). The mean CMT of the two groups was lower than that before treatment (F=151.653,P＜0.01). There was no significant difference in the mean CMT between the two groups (F=0.332,P=0.566). No retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, cataract and persistent high intraocular pressure were associated with drug, injection-related eye and systemic adverse events during follow-up. Seven eyes had conjunctiva bleeding after treatment, 11 patients (11 eyes) complained of shadow floaters after treatment. Conclusion Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab or ranibizumab can equally effectively improve the visual acuity and reduce the CMT of PM-CNV patients.
Myopic choroidal neovascularization (MCNV) is one of the main reasons of vision loss in working population in Asia, which has brought economical and social-psychological burdens with high incidence in China, The precise pathogenesis of MCNV is unclear. Metamorphosia is the main reported symptom in these patients. The lesions were usually with smaller area, less leakage and relatively slow progression. Currently, intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents are now the established standard of care for MCNV, which was a major breakthrough in the treatment of MCNV achieving visual acuity improvement. Since the natural history, clinical features and therapy response of this disease is significant different from that in choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration, the treatment dosing, frequency, retreatment criteria and the follow-up interval should been considerately. Facing the myopia boom in China, there is a need for the development of a precise definition and a more detailed classification for pathogenic myopia, optimize the outcome assessment and follow-up strategy, which should benefit to the further basically and clinical studies.
ObjectiveTo assess changes of blood flow density of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (ICNV) treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF).MethodsRetrospective case analysis. Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with ICNV diagnosed with FFA and OCT were included in this study. Among them, 12 were female and 4 were male. The mean age was 33.94±9.83 years. The mean course of diseases was 5.13±4.44 weeks. The BCVA, indirect ophthalmoscope, OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed at the first diagnosis in all patients. The BCVA was converted to logMAR. The macular fovea retinal thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT, and the selected area of CNV (CSA) and flow area of CNV (CFA) were measured by OCTA. The mean logMAR BCVA, CMT, CSA and CFA were 0.336±0.163, 268.500±57.927 μm, 0.651±0.521 mm2, 0.327±0.278 mm2 , respectively. All patients were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR, 10 mg/ml, 0.05 ml). Follow-up results including the BCVA, fundus color photography, OCT and OCTA were obtained 1 month after treatment. To compare the changes of BCVA, CMT, CSA, CFA of ICNV treated with anti-VEGF. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between logMAR BCVA and CMT, CSA and CFA before and after the treatment.ResultsOne month after treatment, the average logMAR BCVA, CMT, CSA and CFA were 0.176±0.111, 232.500±18.910 μm, 0.420±0.439 mm2, 0.215±0.274 mm2. The mean logMAR BCVA (t=5.471, P＜0.001), CMT (t=2.527, P=0.023), CSA (t=4.039, P=0.001), CFA (t=4.214, P=0.001) significantly decreased at 1 month after injection compared to baseline, and the difference had statistical significance. The results of correlation analysis showed that the post-logMAR BCVA was moderately positively correlated with pre-CSA and post-CSA (r=0.553, 0.560; P=0.026, 0.024), and strongly correlated with pre-CFA and post-CFA (r=0.669, 0.606; P=0.005, 0.013), but not correlated with pre-CMT and post-CMT (r=0.553, 0.560; P=0.026, 0.024).ConclusionThe blood flow density of ICNV measured by OCTA were significantly decreased in the treatment of anti-VEGF drugs.