The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema

<b>Objectives:</b> to evaluate the efficacy of 0.7 mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema through mean retinal sensitivity (MRS), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and fixation stability. <b>...

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Main Authors: Enzo Maria Vingolo, Simona Mascolo, Lorenzo Casillo, Mattia Calabro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/174
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author Enzo Maria Vingolo
Simona Mascolo
Lorenzo Casillo
Mattia Calabro
author_facet Enzo Maria Vingolo
Simona Mascolo
Lorenzo Casillo
Mattia Calabro
author_sort Enzo Maria Vingolo
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives:</b> to evaluate the efficacy of 0.7 mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema through mean retinal sensitivity (MRS), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and fixation stability. <b>Methods:</b> patients (n = 50) with DME, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.1 logMAR, and central retinal thickness (CRT) of ≥300 μm determined by optical coherence tomography were treated with 0.7 mg slow-release dexamethasone, and endpoints were evaluated one and three months after the injection. <b>Results:</b> The best corrected visual acuity, BCVA, whose mean values at baseline were 0.42 logMAR, improved significantly post dexamethasone injection, with mean values of 0.20 logMAR at one month and 0.24 logMAR at three months. The mean central retinal thickness, CRT, was 463 µm at baseline increasing to 297 µm at one month, and 315 µm at three months. Mean retinal sensitivity (MRS) was 12.31 dB at baseline. In line with other parameters, MRS also showed significant improvement at one month after slow-release dexamethasone treatment, with a mean value of 15.35 Db and the improvement was sustained at three months after injection, with a mean value of 14.71 dB. Fixation stability was assessed using the area of the third BCEA ellipse. At baseline, patients had an ellipse area of 53.68 degrees. At one month after injection, patients showed an improvement, with a mean ellipse area of 5.23 degrees, which was maintained at three months, with a mean ellipse area of 4.13 degrees. <b>Conclusions:</b> The dexamethasone implant of 0.7 mg met the efficacy endpoint for improvement in MRS, BCVA, CRT and fixation stability.
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spelling doaj-art-31b4df8d8f3c465593ef0fa83bb462062025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-01-0117217410.3390/pharmaceutics17020174The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular EdemaEnzo Maria Vingolo0Simona Mascolo1Lorenzo Casillo2Mattia Calabro3University La Sapienza of Rome, Sense Organs Department, Unit of Ophtalmology, Polo Pontino-Ospedale A. Fiorini, 04019 Terracina, ItalyUniversity La Sapienza of Rome, Sense Organs Department, Unit of Ophtalmology, Polo Pontino-Ospedale A. Fiorini, 04019 Terracina, ItalyUniversity La Sapienza of Rome, Sense Organs Department, Unit of Ophtalmology, Polo Pontino-Ospedale A. Fiorini, 04019 Terracina, ItalyUniversity La Sapienza of Rome, Sense Organs Department, Unit of Ophtalmology, Polo Pontino-Ospedale A. Fiorini, 04019 Terracina, Italy<b>Objectives:</b> to evaluate the efficacy of 0.7 mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema through mean retinal sensitivity (MRS), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and fixation stability. <b>Methods:</b> patients (n = 50) with DME, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.1 logMAR, and central retinal thickness (CRT) of ≥300 μm determined by optical coherence tomography were treated with 0.7 mg slow-release dexamethasone, and endpoints were evaluated one and three months after the injection. <b>Results:</b> The best corrected visual acuity, BCVA, whose mean values at baseline were 0.42 logMAR, improved significantly post dexamethasone injection, with mean values of 0.20 logMAR at one month and 0.24 logMAR at three months. The mean central retinal thickness, CRT, was 463 µm at baseline increasing to 297 µm at one month, and 315 µm at three months. Mean retinal sensitivity (MRS) was 12.31 dB at baseline. In line with other parameters, MRS also showed significant improvement at one month after slow-release dexamethasone treatment, with a mean value of 15.35 Db and the improvement was sustained at three months after injection, with a mean value of 14.71 dB. Fixation stability was assessed using the area of the third BCEA ellipse. At baseline, patients had an ellipse area of 53.68 degrees. At one month after injection, patients showed an improvement, with a mean ellipse area of 5.23 degrees, which was maintained at three months, with a mean ellipse area of 4.13 degrees. <b>Conclusions:</b> The dexamethasone implant of 0.7 mg met the efficacy endpoint for improvement in MRS, BCVA, CRT and fixation stability.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/174diabetic macular edemadexamethasonemicroperimetrymean retinal sensitivity
spellingShingle Enzo Maria Vingolo
Simona Mascolo
Lorenzo Casillo
Mattia Calabro
The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
Pharmaceutics
diabetic macular edema
dexamethasone
microperimetry
mean retinal sensitivity
title The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
title_full The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
title_fullStr The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
title_short The Effects of Slow-Release Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
title_sort effects of slow release dexamethasone in the treatment of diabetic macular edema
topic diabetic macular edema
dexamethasone
microperimetry
mean retinal sensitivity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/2/174
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