The combination of triamcinolone acetonide intravitreous injection with macular laser grid photocoagulation in the treatment of macular edema

Background Clinical effectiveness of intavitreal injection of glucocorticosteroid for macular edema has been verified,especially triamcinolone acetonide(TA).However,the efficacy and safety of combination of TA with macular laser grid photocoagulation for macular edema is concerned. Objective This clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of TA combined with macular laser grid photocoagulation in the treatment of macular edema. Methods A case-cohort study was designed.One hundred and twenty eyes of 120 patients with macular edema from diabetes or retinal vein occlusion were included in this study.The patients were randomized into trial group and control group,with the matched age,course,visual acuity,intraocular pressure (IOP).The patients of the trial group received intravitreal injection of TA combined with macular laser grid photocoagulation,and those of the control group were managed with macular laser grid photocoagulation only.Best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA),optical coherence tomography(OCT),fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA) and IOP were examined before TA injection and 1 week,1 month,3 months,6 months after treatment and compared among different time points between two groups.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to entering this trial. Results Compared with TA injection before,the BCVA was significantly elevated in the trial group 1 week,1 month,3 months and 6 months after TA injection( all P=0.000),however,no obvious improvement of visual acuity was found in the control group before and after treatment at any time point (P＞0.05 ).At various time points,the visual acuity was significantly improved in the trial group than the control group (P =0.037,0.000,0.002,0.046 ).Macular thickness was significantly decreased at various time points after TA injection in comparison with before TA injection in the trial group(all P=0.000),but no significant change in macular thickness in the control group between before and after treatment at any time point( P＞0.05 ).Macular thickness was lower in the trial group compared with the control group at various time points after treatment ( P＜0.05 ).Recurrence of macular edema was seen in 7 eyes ( 1 1.67％ ) 4-6 months,and the IOP raise( ＞21 mmHg)was found in 11 eyes( 14.1％ )after TA injection in the trial group.Conclusions Intravitreal injection of TA combined with macular laser grid photocoagulation can be an effective method in the treatment of macular edema.However,recurrence of macular edema or increase of IOP may occur in a few patients within 6 months after TA injection.A long-term follow-up should be performed for the evaluation of efficacy and safety after intravitreous injection of TA. Key words: Triamcinolone acetonide;  Intravitreal injection;  Laser grid photocoagulation;  Macular edema