Efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone after or concomitant with laser photocoagulation in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema.

Author(s): Aydin E, Demir HD, Yardim H, Erkorkmaz U

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology,Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Tokat - Turkey.

Publication date & source: 2009-07, Eur J Ophthalmol., 19(4):630-7.

PURPOSE. To investigate the clinical effects and outcomes of intravitreal injection of 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) after or concomitant with macular laser photocoagulation (MP) for clinically significant macular edema (CSME). METHODS. Forty-nine eyes of 49 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and CSME were randomized into three groups. The eyes in the laser group (n=17), group 1, were subjected to MP 3 weeks after IVTA; the eyes in the IVTA group (n=13), group 2, were subjected to MP, concomitant with IVTA; the eyes in the control group (n=19), group 3, underwent only IVTA application. Visual acuity (VA), fundus fluorescein angiography, and photography were performed in each group. RESULTS. In the first group, the mean VA improved from 0.17-/+0.09 at baseline to 0.28-/+0.15 (p=0.114) and in the second group, deteriorated from 0.19-/+0.08 at baseline to 0.14-/+0.08 at the sixth month (p=0.141), respectively. In Group 3, the mean VA improved from 0.16-/+0.08 at baseline to 0.28-/+0.18 (p=0.118) at the end of the follow-up. When VA was compared between the control and study groups, significant difference was detected at the sixth month (p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS. MP after IVTA improved VA, rather than MP concomitant with IVTA, and only IVTA application for CSME. MP after IVTA may reduce the recurrence of CSME and needs further investigations in a longer period.