Effectiveness and cytokine profile of combined anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and corticosteroid therapy for chronic retinal vein occlusion

• DOI: 10.1007/s00417-025-06738-4
• Publication Date: 2025-01-18T05:57:29Z
• Authors: Yusuke Arai; Hidenori Takahashi; Satoru Inoda; Shinichi Sakamoto; Hidetoshi Kawashima; Yasuo Yanagi
• Keywords: Retinal Vein

To investigate whether sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide (STTA) combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) prolongs the recurrence intervals macular edema (ME) for chronic retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to differences in intraocular inflammatory cytokines between good responders (GRs) non-responders (NRs). This retrospective, observational study involved 42 eyes patients ME due RVO who had received only anti-VEGF ≥ 1 year were transitioned combination therapy. GRs defined as whose prolonged by 2 weeks compared receiving alone. Moreover, immediately before starting therapy, aqueous humor was collected following NRs: CCL11, MCP-3, IP-10, CCL13, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-1α, IL-15, IL-4, M-CSF, MMP-9, TNF-α, MCP-1, CXCL-1, CXCL12, IL-8, galectin-1, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-2, IL-6, MMP-1, PDGF-AA, VEGF-A. These results analyzed nominal logistic regression after stepwise variable selection. There 26 (62%) GR group. Nominal analyses showed that a higher concentration IL-1α (P = 0.016) lower concentrations IL-5 0.015), IL-6 0.022), galectin-1 0.015) significantly associated extension time from ME. Combined STTA therapy effective 62% patients, suggesting effectiveness STTA. Higher IL-5, factors treatment effectiveness.