Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of subretinal injection of Aflibercept for the treatment of refractory or recurrent polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). MethodsA prospective clinical research. From January to June 2022, 18 patients of 18 eyes with PCV diagnosed in The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The BCVA examination was performed using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. The large choroidal vessel thickness (LVCT), central retinal thickness (CRT), sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) height were measured by enhanced depth imaging technique of OCT. The choroidal vascular index (CVI) was calculated. There were 18 patients of 18 eyes, 11 males of 11 eyes and 7 females of 7 eyes. The age was (64.22±3.86) years old. The disease duration was (5.22±1.80) years. The patient had received intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs for (7.72±1.36) times. The logMAR BCVA of the affected eyes was 1.28±0.25. The SFCT, CRT, LVCT, PED height were (436.56±9.80), (432.44±44.29), (283.78±27.10), (342.44±50.18) μm, respectively, and CVI was 0.65±0.01. All eyes were treated with a single subretinal injection of 40 mg/ml Aflibercept 0.05 ml (including Aflibercept 2.0 mg). According to the results of OCT and BCVA after treatment, the lesions were divided into active type and static type. The active lesions were treated with intravitreal injection of Aflibercept at the same dose as before. Quiescent lesions were followed up. Examinations were performed 1-3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment using the same equipment and methods before treatment. The BCVA, LVCT, CRT, SFCT, PED height, CVI, interretinal or subretinal fluid, lesion regression rate, injection times, and complications during and after treatment were observed. The BCVA, SFCT, CRT, LVCT, PED height and CVI before and after treatment were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance. ResultsEighteen eyes received subretinal and/or intravitreal injection of Aflibercept (1.61±0.85) times (1-4 times). At the last follow-up, the polypoid lesions regressed in 4 eyes and PED disappeared in 1 eye. Compared with before treatment, BCVA (F=50.298) gradually increased, CRT (F=25.220), PED height (F=144.16), SFCT (F=69.77), LVCT (F=136.69), CVI (F=72.70) gradually decreased after treatment. The differences were statistically significant (P＜0.001). Macular hole occurred in 1 eye after treatment, and the hole closed spontaneously 3 months after treatment. No serious complications such as retinal tear, retinal detachment, endophthalmitis and vitreous hemorrhage occurred during and after treatment. ConclusionSubretinal injection of Aflibercept is safe and effective in the treatment of refractory PCV.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of subretinal injection and intravitreal injection of conbercept in the treatment of polypoid choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). MethodsA prospective, randomized double-blind controlled study. From June 2022 to January 2023, 35 patients of 35 eyes with PCV diagnosed at Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. All patients were first-time recipients of treatment. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed in all affected eyes. BCVA was performed using an international standard visual acuity chart and converted to logarithmic minimum resolved angle (logMAR) visual acuity for statistical purposes. Enhanced depth imaging with OCT instrument was used to measure the macular retinal thickness (MRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and pigment epithelium detachment (PED) height. Randomized numerical table method was used to divide the patients into subretinal injection group (group A) and vitreous cavity injection group (Group B), 18 cases with 18 eyes and 17 cases with 17 eyes, respectively. Comparison of age (t=0.090), disease duration (t=−0.370), logMAR BCVA (t=−0.190), MRT (t=0.860), SFCT (t=0.247), and PED height (t=−0.520) between the two groups showed no statistically significant difference (P＞0.05). The eyes of group A were given one subretinal injection of 10 mg/ml conbercept 0.05 ml (containing conbercept 0.5 mg), and subsequently administered on demand (PRN); eyes in group B were given intravitreal injection of 10 mg/ml conbercept 0.05 ml (containing conbercept 0.5 mg). The treatment regimen was 3+PRN. Lesions were categorized into active and quiescent according to the results of post-treatment OCT and BCVA. Active lesions were treated with intravitreal injection of conbercept at the same dose as before; stationary lesions were followed up for observation. BCVA and OCT were performed at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment; ICGA was performed at 3, 6 and 9 months. BCVA, MRT, SFCT, and PED height changes before and after treatment were compared and observed in the affected eyes of the two groups. Independent sample t-test was used to compare between the two groups. ResultsWith the prolongation of time after treatment, the BCVA of the affected eyes in groups A and B gradually increased, and the MRT, SFCT, and PED height gradually decreased. Compared with group B, at 2, 3, 6, and 9 months after treatment, the BCVA of group A was significantly improved, and the difference was statistically significant (t=−2.215, −2.820, −2.559, −4.051; P＜0.05); at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 months after treatment, the MRT of the affected eyes in group A (t=−2.439, −3.091, −3.099, −3.665, −5.494), SFCT (t=−3.370, −3.058, −3.268, −4.220, −4.121), and PED height (t=−3.460, −4.678, −4.956, −5.368, −6.396) were significantly reduced, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). No complications such as intraocular inflammation, high intraocular pressure, or vitreous hemorrhage occurred in any of the affected eyes during or after treatment. ConclusionCompared with the intravitreal injection of conbercept, the subretinal injection of conbercept can more effectively reduce the height of MRT, SFCT, PED height, and improve the visual acuity of the affected eyes with PCV.