Diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab following bevacizumab failure in Israel (DERBI study)

• Published in: European journal of ophthalmology 2019-03, Vol.29 (2), p.229-233
• Main Authors: Ehrlich, Rita, Pokroy, Russell, Segal, Ori, Goldstein, Michaella, Pollack, Ayala, Hanhart, Joel, Barak, Yoreh, Kehat, Rinat, Shulman, Shiri, Vidne, Orit, Abu Ahmad, Wiessam, Chowers, Itay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1120-6721; 1724-6016
• DOI: 10.1177/1120672118782102

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of second-line intravitreal ranibizumab treatment in eyes with diabetic macular edema having persistent edema following initial therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab. Methods: Diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab following bevacizumab failure in Israel was a retrospective, multi-center study. Consecutive eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema following at least three previous intravitreal bevacizumab injections prior to intravitreal ranibizumab, at least three-monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections and at least 12 months of follow-up were included. Data collected included demographics, ocular findings, diabetes control, details of intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab injections, and visual and anatomical measurements before and after intravitreal ranibizumab treatment. Results: In total, 202 eyes of 162 patients treated at 11 medical centers across Israel were included. Patients received a mean (±standard deviation) of 8.8 ± 4.9 intravitreal bevacizumab injections prior to the switch to intravitreal ranibizumab. A mean of 7.0 ± 2.7 intravitreal ranibizumab injections were given during the 12 months following the switch to intravitreal ranibizumab. The median central subfield retinal thickness (±interquartile range) by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography decreased from 436 ± 162 µm at baseline to 319 ± 113 µm at month 12 (p