Intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator to treat macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion

Am J Ophthalmol. 2006 Aug;142(2):318-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2006.02.039.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) injection for branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: Seventeen eyes presenting with macular edema caused by BRVO were treated with an intravitreal tPA (Monteplase, 40 k IU) injection. We assessed the visual acuity (VA) and foveal thickness measured with optical coherence tomography.

Results: The mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 3.6 +/- 3.8 weeks. The mean logMAR VA significantly improved from 0.603 +/- 0.327 at baseline to 0.388 +/- 0.248 (P < .01) at one month and 0.359 +/- 0.319 (P < .05) at six months. The mean foveal thickness significantly decreased from 738 +/- 156 microm at baseline to 454 +/- 213 microm (P < .001) at one month and 253 +/- 164 microm (P < .001) six months.

Conclusion: Intravitreal tPA injection may be an effective treatment for resolving macular edema and improving the VA in BRVO.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Fovea Centralis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Macular Edema / drug therapy*
  • Macular Edema / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / complications
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator