Real-World outcomes of ranibizumab treatment for diabetic macular edema

Abstract

Introduction: Intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, one of which is ranibizumab, have replaced macular laser photocoagulation as the mainstay of diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment [1]. Although clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of ranibizumab treatment, the outcomes may differ in a real-world clinical setting [2]. Aim of the Study To evaluate the outcomes of ranibizumab treatment for DME in a real-world clinical setting. Methods This retrospective monocenter study involved the analysis of medical records of patients who started ranibizumab treatment for DME at the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos between June 2015 and May 2017. Anonymized data regarding follow-up visits, ranibizumab injections administered and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were collected. Snellen BCVA measurements were converted to approximate Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter scores [3]. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare BCVA values at baseline with values at different time points during the follow-up period. Baseline BCVA subgroups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. P value 68 letters), their vision remained better than of eyes with worse baseline BCVA throughout the two years of follow-up.