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Ranibizumab in the treatment of patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema

Authors Bandello F , De Benedetto, Knutsson, parodi M, Cascavilla, Iacono P

Published 14 September 2011 Volume 2011:5 Pages 1303—1308

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S17423

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Francesco Bandello1, Umberto De Benedetto1, Karl Anders Knutsson1, Maurizio Battaglia Parodi1, Maria Lucia Cascavilla1, Pierluigi Iacono2
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; 2Fondazione G B Bietti per l’Oftalmologia, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

Abstract: Diabetic macular edema is the major cause of visual acuity impairment in diabetic patients. The exact etiopathogenesis is unknown and, currently, grid/focal retinal laser photocoagulation represents the recommended treatment. It has been demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic macular edema by mediating vascular permeability and accumulation of intracellular and extracellular fluid, and thereby represents an appealing candidate as a therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The advent of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs has opened up a new era for the management of diabetic macular edema. At present, three anti-VEGF substances are available for routine clinical use, ie, pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence supporting the use of ranibizumab in clinical practice. Most of the studies analyzed in this review are prospective, controlled clinical trials that have focused on documenting the therapeutic effect of ranibizumab and its safety, providing encouraging results.

Keywords: ranibizumab, diabetic macular edema, anti-VEGF, diabetic macular edema

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