Early versus Late Switch to an Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant after Failed Anti-VEGF Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
{"title":"Early versus Late Switch to an Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant after Failed Anti-VEGF Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Chanyuan Cao, Guoxiao Yu, Zhen Deng","doi":"10.1159/000546682","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Monthly anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are the primary line of management of diabetic macular edema (DME). However, a large number of patients do not respond to anti-VEGF and require dexamethasone implants (DEXIs) as a second line of therapy. There remains a clinical conundrum on the optimal timing of the switch to DEXI. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess outcomes after an early versus late switch to DEXI after failed anti-VEGF therapy in DME.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase till 25th December 2024. We assessed changes in central retinal thickness (CRT), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and risk of ocular hypertension between early versus late switch groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six studies were included. Pooled analysis of all six studies showed that there was a tendency of improved CRT (MD: 19.01; 95% CI: -27.29, 65.31; I2 = 85%) and BCVA (MD: 0.05; 95% CI: -0.04, 0.14; I2 = 72%) with early switch as compared to late switch group but without statistical significance. Removing one outlier study showed statistically significant improvement in CRT (MD: 36.84; 95% CI: 7.54, 66.14; I2 = 48%) and BCVA with early switch (MD: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.11; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis based on the definition of late switch indicated better outcomes with an early switch when the late switch was defined as after >6 anti-VEGF injections. No difference was noted in the risk of ocular hypertension between the two groups (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.38, 1.73; I2 = 30%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>An early switch to DEXI may tend toward better outcomes as compared to a late switch in treatment-resistant DME patients. High heterogeneity of the meta-analysis and outlier studies are important limitations of present evidence, which can only be resolved with high-quality randomized controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":19662,"journal":{"name":"Ophthalmic Research","volume":" ","pages":"360-371"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Ophthalmic Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000546682","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/5/30 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OPHTHALMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Monthly anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are the primary line of management of diabetic macular edema (DME). However, a large number of patients do not respond to anti-VEGF and require dexamethasone implants (DEXIs) as a second line of therapy. There remains a clinical conundrum on the optimal timing of the switch to DEXI. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess outcomes after an early versus late switch to DEXI after failed anti-VEGF therapy in DME.
Methods: Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase till 25th December 2024. We assessed changes in central retinal thickness (CRT), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and risk of ocular hypertension between early versus late switch groups.
Results: Six studies were included. Pooled analysis of all six studies showed that there was a tendency of improved CRT (MD: 19.01; 95% CI: -27.29, 65.31; I2 = 85%) and BCVA (MD: 0.05; 95% CI: -0.04, 0.14; I2 = 72%) with early switch as compared to late switch group but without statistical significance. Removing one outlier study showed statistically significant improvement in CRT (MD: 36.84; 95% CI: 7.54, 66.14; I2 = 48%) and BCVA with early switch (MD: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.11; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis based on the definition of late switch indicated better outcomes with an early switch when the late switch was defined as after >6 anti-VEGF injections. No difference was noted in the risk of ocular hypertension between the two groups (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.38, 1.73; I2 = 30%).
Conclusions: An early switch to DEXI may tend toward better outcomes as compared to a late switch in treatment-resistant DME patients. High heterogeneity of the meta-analysis and outlier studies are important limitations of present evidence, which can only be resolved with high-quality randomized controlled trials.
期刊介绍：
''Ophthalmic Research'' features original papers and reviews reporting on translational and clinical studies. Authors from throughout the world cover research topics on every field in connection with physical, physiologic, pharmacological, biochemical and molecular biological aspects of ophthalmology. This journal also aims to provide a record of international clinical research for both researchers and clinicians in ophthalmology. Finally, the transfer of information from fundamental research to clinical research and clinical practice is particularly welcome.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
