A prospective case-control study of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial factor drugs in the treatment of Coats disease / 中华眼底病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of traditional laser photocoagulation, laser combined with intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial factor (anti-VEGF) drugs and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs alone in Coats disease.Methods:The patients diagnosed as Coats disease stage 2B-3A2 in Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University from December 2016 to November 2019 were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups, including laser group, combined group and drug group, according to the different treatment. In the laser group, the initial treatment was traditional laser photocoagulation alone. In the drug group, the anti-VEGF drug was injected into vitreous once a month for three months. The initial treatment of the eyes in the combined group was laser combined with intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs, or laser treatment within 1 week after anti-VEGF drug treatment. The follow-up time was more than 6 months, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ultra-wide-angle fundus photography, and fluorescein fundus angiography were performed during follow-up. The treatment efficiency, subretinal fluid (SRF), macular edema, BCVA and complications were compared among the three groups.Results:Among 60 patients (60 eyes), there were 55 males (55 eyes) and 5 females (5 eyes), with the mean age of 17.1±2.0 years. Among 60 eyes, there were 26 eyes in 2B stage, 23 eyes in 3A1 stage, and 11 eyes in 3A2 stage. Twenty patients (20 eyes) was in the laser group, combined group and drug group, respectively. After the initial treatment of all eyes in the drug group, the abnormal blood vessels did not regress significantly; the absorption and increase of SRF were 4 (20.0%, 4/20) and 5 (25.0%, 5/20) eyes, respectively. Supplementary laser therapy was given to 16 eyes, and vitrectomy (PPV) was given to 4 eyes. Among the 16 eyes treated by laser, 10 eyes were effective (50.0%, 10/20); vitreous hemorrhage, fibrous membrane hyperplasia, and complicated cataract occurred in 1, 1, and 2 eyes during the treatment, respectively, and PPV was given again in all eyes. Recurrent and persistent macular edema occurred in 4 and 1 eyes, respectively. Among the eyes in the combined group, treatment were effective in 11 eyes (55.0%, 11/20); 5, 2, and 2 eyes had SRF, fibrous membrane hyperplasia, and complicated cataract during the treatment, and PPV was given again; the edema was repeated and persisted in 1 eye, respectively. Among the affected eyes in the laser group, 15 eyes (75.0%, 15/20) were treated effectively; 2, 2, and 1 eyes developed a large number of vitreous hemorrhage, fibrous membrane hyperplasia, and complicated cataract during the treatment, and PPV was given again.Conclusions:Anti-VEGF drugs alone are ineffective in the treatment of Coats disease, and ablation of other abnormal blood vessels is needed. In the treatment of Coats disease, anti-VEGF drugs can not only promote the absorption of SRF, but also may lead to its increase, and the application should be cautious.