Monthly Versus Treat-and-Extend Ranibizumab for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background and objective: Compare fixed monthly dosing of ranibizumab to treat-and-extend (T&E) ranibizumab during a period of 24 months for diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment.

Patients and methods: Single-center, randomized, prospective pilot study that included 20 eyes of 20 subjects. Patients' best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was less than or equal to 20/40 and central foveal thickness on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was greater than 325 µm. Intravitreal ranibizumab was dosed monthly or by protocol-specified treat-and-extend. Primary outcome was mean change in mean BCVA. Institutional review board approval was obtained.

Results: At month 24 (M24), there was a mean 8.3-letter gain in the monthly treatment group and an 8.5-letter gain in the T&E group (P = .082; 90% confidence interval). The average change from baseline BCVA was not statistically significantly different at any timepoint. At M24, the median number of injections in the monthly and T&E groups were 22.5 and 18.5, respectively (P = .287).

Conclusions: Visual acuity with monthly dosing appears equivalent to T&E dosing during the course of 24 months. There was a trend toward a lower injection burden in the T&E arm. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:e191-e197.].