High-dose ranibizumab therapy for vascularized pigment epithelial detachment

Eye (Lond). 2012 Jun;26(6):882-5. doi: 10.1038/eye.2012.90. Epub 2012 May 11.

Abstract

Purpose: The conventional dose of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment may slowly reduce the subretinal fluid and height of a vascularized pigment epithelial detachment (vPED), but rarely leads to its complete resolution. We report a dramatic outcome involving a high dose (2 mg) of ranibizumab for treating vPED.

Methods: This report describes three eyes with vPED that received 2 mg in 0.05 ml of ranibizumab injections on a monthly basis and were followed prospectively. Each patient received a complete ocular examination, including best-corrected standardized ETDRS testing, fundus photography (FP), fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherent tomography (OCT), and indocyanine-green angiography at baseline. ETDRS and OCT testing were repeated monthly, while FP and FA were performed every 3 months.

Results: Following a single intravitreal injection of 2 mg ranibizumab, there was rapid resolution of the subretinal fluid, haemorrhage, exudates, and flattening of the vPED within 10 days for Case 1, and within 1 month for Case 2 and Case 3.

Conclusion: Rapid and dramatic decrease in the exudative changes and collapse of the vPED may develop after a single injection of high-dose (2 mg) ranibizumab in certain eyes with a vPED. The improvement was maintained with additional monthly injections to 12 months.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Coloring Agents
  • Exudates and Transudates
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ranibizumab
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnosis
  • Retinal Detachment / drug therapy*
  • Retinal Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Retinal Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Retinal Neovascularization / diagnosis
  • Retinal Neovascularization / drug therapy*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / drug effects*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Subretinal Fluid / drug effects
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Visual Acuity / physiology

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Coloring Agents
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Ranibizumab