Systemic Immunosuppression Is Highly Effective in the Long-term Control of Inflammatory non-infectious Uveitic Choroidal Neovascularization: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To compare immediate versus delayed introduction of immunosuppressives for naive noninfectious inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV).

Methods: a retrospective, consecutive, comparative, interventional case series of patients with a diagnosis of inflammatory CNV and a minimum follow of 36 months. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received Immunosuppressives if needed, while Group B since baseline. Both groups received systemic steroids and intravitreal ranibizumab since baseline. Primary end point was to compare the BCVA outcome till 36-month follow-up.

Results: Twenty-nine eyes with iCNV were enrolled. In the long term, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significantly better in group B. At 3-month follow-up, Group B reduced steroids <10 mg/day significantly (p = .0001, Fisher’s Exact Test). At 36 months of follow up, injections given were 2.9 (0.9 SD) in group A and 1.25 (0.4 SD) in group B.

Conclusion: early immunosuppressive therapy exerts a positive action on the long-term control of uveitic CNV.

KEYWORDS:

• Uveitis
• choroidal neovascularization
• immunesuppressive drugs
• anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
• steroids

Acknowledgments

The first and the second author shares the same intellectual properties of the present manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.