Research progress in topical application of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs for uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema and choroidal neovascularization / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Uveitis is a kind of inflammatory disease affected in ocular posterior segment.Uveitis sustains a long duration and causes a significant damage of visual function.It often leads to serious complications,such as cystoid macular edema (CME),cataract,glaucoma,retinal detachment and choroidal neovascularization (CNV).In the pathological process of uveitis,inflammatory factors promote the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) through a variety of pathways.It has been verified that VEGF level is elevated in vitreous in the patients with uveiticinduced CME.Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs,including ranibizumab and bevacizumab,can improve the visual acuity in most patients with noninfectious uveitic-induced CME and CNV.However,intravitreously repeated injections of anti-VEGF drugs may be required in some patients.Intraocular injection of anti-VEGF drugs is an optional and effective way for those with persist macular edema and not being suitable for the use of corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy.However,anti-VEGF drugs may affect the efficacy of corticosteroid.Therefore,more clinical and basic researches are still needed.The status and progresses in the use of anti-VEGF drugs for uveitisinduced CME and CNV were reviewed.