Effect of Leaking Foveal Microaneurysms on the Treatment of Center-Involving Diabetic Macular Edema: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Evaluate the effect of foveal leaking microaneurysms (MAs) on the required number of intravitreal ranibiz-umab (IVR) injections in the treatment of center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME) when treated with focal/grid laser. Design: A pilot study of prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter clinical trial. Methods: This study enrolled 21 eyes with DME for which pro re nata IVR injections were combined with short-pulse focal/grid laser. At 12 months, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield macular thickness (CMT), and the required number of IVRs to maintain CMT < 300 µm were compared between eyes with or without foveal leaking MAs, termed the MA(+) and MA(–) groups, respectively. Results: Significant CMT improvements (p < 0.0001) and increased BCVA of 4.0 ± 8.5 letters were observed at 12 months. The MA(–) group required significantly fewer IVRs than did the MA(+) group (mean: 4.9 ± 3.0 vs. 8.6 ± 3.0; p = 0.0306). In the latter 6 months of the 1-year follow-up, 50% (4/8) of MA(–) eyes did not require any IVR administration to sustain CMT < 300 µm. Conclusions: A combination therapy of short-pulse focal/grid laser and reduced IVR injections appeared noninferior to previous reports of IVR monotherapy. Further large-scale investigations are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]