The study was done to investigate the effect of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on aflibercept response in treatment-naïve diabetic macular oedema (DME).
A retrospective cohort study.150 treatment-naïve patients with DME were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups according to their PVD status: group 1, group 2 and group 3. Three consecutive aflibercept injections at intervals of 1 month were applied to all patients. The efficacy of the aflibercept treatment on DME was assessed by comparing changes in CRT and BCVA values after three loading dose injections.
After three consecutive injections, the mean reduction of CRT in groups 1, 2 and 3 were −199.6±106.9, −224.9±124.1 and −210.7±126.3, respectively. The decrease in CRT was significant in all groups; however, mean changes in CRT were similar among groups. The mean improvement in BCVA in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 6.6±0.9, 6.5±0.8 and 6.1±0.4 ETDRS letters, respectively. The improvement of BCVA was significant in all groups and mean changes were similar between groups. There was no significant relationship between the presence or development of PVD and the mean decrease of CRT and improvement of BCVA.
The study concluded that it was observed that the efficacy of aflibercept treatment in patients with DME did not depend on PVD status.
Reference: https://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2020/08/11/bjophthalmol-2020-316155
