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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year : 2021  |  Volume : 69  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 186-187

Comments on: Long-term results of a single injection of intravitreal dexamethasone as initial therapy in diabetic macular edema


Medical Consultant, Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Web Publication15-Dec-2020

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Shishir Verghese
Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, Civil Aerodrome Post, Peelamedu, Coimbatore - 641 014, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_596_20

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How to cite this article:
Verghese S, Ranjan R, Manayath GJ. Comments on: Long-term results of a single injection of intravitreal dexamethasone as initial therapy in diabetic macular edema. Indian J Ophthalmol 2021;69:186-7

How to cite this URL:
Verghese S, Ranjan R, Manayath GJ. Comments on: Long-term results of a single injection of intravitreal dexamethasone as initial therapy in diabetic macular edema. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2021 [cited 2024 Mar 28];69:186-7. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2021/69/1/186/303345



Dear Editor,

We read the interesting article by Mahapatra and Kumari describing the favorable outcomes following a single injection of dexamethasone as an initial therapy in diabetic macular edema (DME) published in the March issue.[1] However, in an era when anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs are frequently being used as the first-line treatment for DME, it would have been better if authors have conducted a randomized study comparing the outcomes following anti-VEGF and dexamethasone. Author's claim their study being the first to evaluate the role of dexamethasone as an initial treatment does not seem to be correct as there are studies comparing the outcomes following dexamethasone and anti-VEGF drugs used as an initial treatment for DME.[2]

DME is known to have two phases, the initial VEGF-mediated phase and the late inflammation-mediated phase. Larger studies have shown that anti-VEGF drugs are more effective in initial phase of DME, while chronic DME responds better to intravitreal steroids.[3] The intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in the initial stages of DME are shown to result in better functional outcomes compared to intravitreal steroids. Reduction in the severity of diabetic retinopathy or slowing its progression is the additional benefit of using intravitreal anti-VEGF.

Although authors have described the prolonged anatomical effect of intravitreal dexamethasone, various studies have shown a saw-tooth pattern after 3 months of injection, following which retreatment is usually required at 6 months.[4] Authors also describe low-complication rate following single injection of dexamethasone, the point to consider here is that if dexamethasone is used as an initial treatment, then patient will require multiple dexamethasone injections in long term once DME is mainly inflammation-mediated. Studies have shown a significantly higher incidence of ocular hypertension and cataract formation following repeated dexamethasone injections.[5]

To conclude, based on available literature, we suggest that anti-VEGF should be preferably considered as the initial treatment modality for DME, whereas dexamethasone should be used for chronic DME. The role of dexamethasone as an initial treatment for DME should be limited only to specific indications.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Mahapatra SK, Kumari S. Long-term results of a single injection of intravitreal dexamethasone as initial therapy in diabetic macular edema.Indian J Ophthalmol 2020;68:490-3.  Back to cited text no. 1
[PUBMED]  [Full text]  
2.
Gillies MC, Lim LL, Campain A, Quin GJ, Salem W, Li J, et al. A randomized clinical trial of intravitreal bevacizumab versus intravitreal dexamethasone for diabetic macular edema. Ophthalmology 2014;121:2473-81.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Hussain RM, Ciulla TA. Treatment strategies for refractory diabetic macular edema: Switching anti-VEGF treatments, adopting corticosteroid-based treatments, and combination therapy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2016;16:365-74.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Danis RP, Sadda SR, Cui H, Li XY, Hashad Y, Whitcup SM. Anatomic outcomes with dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema: Apooled analysis of two randomized phase 3 trials. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014;55:5051-5051.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Bahadorani S, Krambeer C, Wannamaker K, Tie W, Jansen M, Espitia J, et al. The effects of repeated Ozurdex injections on ocular hypertension. Clin Ophthalmol 2018;12:639-42.  Back to cited text no. 5
    



This article has been cited by
1 Response to comments on: Long-term results of a single injection of intravitreal dexamethasone as initial therapy in diabetic macular edema
SantoshKumar Mahapatra, Swati Kumari
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2021; 69(1): 187
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

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