Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Microvascular Changes after Epiretinal Membrane Vitrectomy With Intraoperative Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant: An OCT Angiography Analysis

Antonio Baldascino
ORCID logo ,
Matteo Mario Carlà
* ORCID logo ,
Lorenzo Vielmo
* ,
Gloria Gambini
,
Francesca Carolina Marzano
,
Fabio Margollicci
,
Nicola D'Onofrio
,
Stanislao Rizzo
Version 1 : Received: 8 January 2024 / Approved: 9 January 2024 / Online: 9 January 2024 (15:47:50 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Baldascino, A.; Carlà, M.M.; Vielmo, L.; Gambini, G.; Marzano, F.C.; Margollicci, F.; D’Onofrio, N.C.; Rizzo, S. Microvascular Changes after Epiretinal Membrane Vitrectomy with Intraoperative Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant: An OCT Angiography Analysis. Diagnostics 2024, 14, 411. Baldascino, A.; Carlà, M.M.; Vielmo, L.; Gambini, G.; Marzano, F.C.; Margollicci, F.; D’Onofrio, N.C.; Rizzo, S. Microvascular Changes after Epiretinal Membrane Vitrectomy with Intraoperative Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant: An OCT Angiography Analysis. Diagnostics 2024, 14, 411.

Abstract

Background: We aimed to explore microvascular changes evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients undergoing epiretinal membrane (ERM) pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with intravitreal Ozurdex implantation, compared with standard PPV. (2) Methods: Prospective interventional analysis on 25 eyes undergoing PPV+Ozurdex (Group A) and 25 eyes undergoing PPV alone. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCTA parameters, such as vessel density (VD) of the superficial and deep capillary plexi (SCP and DCP) in the whole 6.4x6.4 mm and fovea area, were evaluated preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. (3) Results: Postoperative BCVA significantly improved in both groups. No cases of post-operative cystoid macular edema (CME) were reported in Group A vs. 2 eyes in Group B. In Group A we found a statistically significant increase of SCP’s VD in either the whole image (from 42.1±4.1 to 45.6±4.3 %, p=0.01) and the fovea image (from 38.5±7.5 to 41.7±4.2%, p=0.03). In Group B, we reported no significant variations in the SCP’s VDs. In the DCP, VD significantly increased only in the whole image in Group A. Stage 4 ERMs showed the greatest improvement in VD, especially in Group A. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, intraoperative Ozurdex prompted a significant BCVA recover and limited the occurrence of postoperative CME compared to the standard procedure. Moreover, Ozurdex implant is associated with a better restoration of microvascular structure in either SCP and DCP.

Keywords

epiretinal membrane; optical coherence tomography angiography; inflammation; intravitreal dexamethasone; Ozurdex; retinal plexi

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Ophthalmology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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