Comparison of the Natural Course and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Treatment for Macular Edema with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Soon Il Kwon; Young Wook Kim; In Won Park

doi:10.3341/jkos.2011.52.8.952

Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.52(8) > 1009103

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Kwon, Kim, and Park: Comparison of the Natural Course and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Treatment for Macular Edema with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2011;52(8):952-958.

Published online: 7 September 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.8.952

Comparison of the Natural Course and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Treatment for Macular Edema with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Soon Il Kwon, MD, Young Wook Kim, MD, In Won Park, MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea

Address reprint requests to In Won Park, MD, PhD Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital #896 Pyeongchon-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang 431-796, Korea Tel: 82-31-380-3834, Fax: 82-31-380-3837, E-mail: piw@korea.com

Received 6 December 2010 Revised 25 February 2011 Accepted 18 May 2011

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the natural course of eyes with decreased visual acuity associated with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and to compare the visual outcome and macular thickness with those of eyes treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTA).

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO who were followed-up for 12 months. We evaluated the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular thickness of the patients who had no treatment for macular edema (natural course group) and compared them with those of patients who had been treated with IVTA (treatment group).

Results

A total of 29 eyes (29 patients) in the natural course group and 27 eyes (27 patients) in the treatment group were enrolled. The BCVA of the natural course group improved in a slow but steady manner and showed a statistically significant difference at 12 months. The treatment group did not show any improvement in BCVA throughout the follow-up period. Therefore, BCVA significantly improved in the natural course group after six months compared to that in the treatment group. Macular thickness showed a statistically significant reduction in three months in the natural course group and in one month in the treatment group.

Conclusions

Although IVTA was effective in reducing macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion at one month after administration, the natural course group had a superior outcome and more improved macular thickness after six months. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2011;52(8):952–958

Keywords: Branch retinal vein occlusion, Macular edema, Natural course

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Figure 1.

Changes in visual acuity in natural group and intravitreal triamcinolone group through 12 months. BCVA = best corrected visual acuity. ^* Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05.

Figure 2.

Changes in visual acuity in natural group and intravitreal triamcinolone group with BCVA < 20/40 through 12 months. BCVA = best corrected visual acuity. ^* Mann-Whitney U test, p <0.05.

Figure 3.

Changes in central macular thickness in natural group and intravitreal triamcinolone group through 12 months. CMT = central macular thickness. ^* Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05.

Figure 4.

Changes in central macular thickness in natural group and intravitreal triamcinolone group with BCVA < 20/40 through 12 months. CMT = central macular thickness. BCVA = best corrected visual acuity. ^* Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion

	Natural course	IVTA^*	p-value
Patients (eye)	29 (29)	27 (27)	
Age (mean ± SD, yr)	53.07 ± 9.06	63.32 ± 12.41	0.375^§
Sex (M:F)	17:12	11:16	0.285^∏
BCVA^† (mean ± SD, log MAR)	0.60 ± 0.46	0.76 ± 0.43	0.162^§
CMT^‡ (mean ± SD, μ m)	562.93 ± 180.27	607.46 ± 159.08	0.328^§
BCVA ≥ 20/40 (eye)	9	4	
BCVA < 20/40 (eye)	20	23	

^* IVTA = intravitreal triamcinolone injection

^† BCVA = best corrected visual acuity

^‡ CMT = central macular thickness.

^§ X² test (p < 0.05)

^∏ Mann-Whitney U test (p < 0.05).

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