Effect of aflibercept combined with triamcinolone acetonide on aqueous humor growth factor and inflammatory mediators in diabetic macular edema
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: AIM: To investigate the efficacy of aflibercept combined with sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in treating diabetic macular edema (DME) and to examine changes in growth factors and inflammatory mediator levels in aqueous humor after injection. METHODS: Totally 67 DME patients (67 eyes) and 30 cataract patients (32 eyes) were enrolled as the DME group and the control group, respectively. The DME group was divided into the aflibercept group (34 cases) and the aflibercept combined with TA group (combined group, 33 cases). The aqueous humor of both groups was collected during the study period. The aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were detected using a microsphere suspension array technology (Luminex 200TM). Aqueous cytokines, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and complications before and after treatment were compared between the aflibercept group and combined group. RESULTS: >0.05). CONCLUSION: The cytokines VEGF, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in the aqueous humor of DME patients are significantly increased. Aflibercept and aflibercept combined with TA have good efficacy in DME patients, can effectively reduce CMT, improve the patient's vision, and have high safety. Aflibercept combined with TA can quickly down-regulate the aqueous humor cytokines and help to relieve macular edema rapidly. However, the long-term efficacy is comparable to that of aflibercept alone.
Authors: De-Shuang Li, Jing-Lin Zhang, Bo Qin
Institutions: Jinan University, Aier Eye Hospital Group (China)
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,800
OpenAlex ID: W4391122154