Results of Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment Dependence on Adherence to Antiangiogenic Therapy in Real Clinical Practice

Relevance. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that can lead to various complications, one of which is diabetic retinopathy (DR), which can occur in more than 30 % of diabetic patients and diabetic macular edema (DME), the most formidable complication of DR. DME results in loss of central vision and significantly reduces quality of life. There are several treatments for DR including laser retinal photocoagulation, intravitreal injections of antivasoproliferative drugs, dexamethasone implant, and vitreoretinal surgery. The aim of the work is to evaluate long-term real results of diabetic macular edema treatment depending on adherence to anti-VEGF therapy in the ophthalmoendocrinological centre of Chelyabinsk city. Materials and methods . 76 patients with DME (including 23/76 (30.3 %) men, 53/76 (69.7 %) women) aged 64.4 [61.8; 70.0] years. In the total sample of patients, type 1 DM was diagnosed in 13/76 (17.1 %) patients, type 2 DM — in 63/76 (82.9 %) patients; nonproliferative stage of DR occurred in 51/76 (67.1 %), proliferative — in 25/76 (32.9 %) patients. Discussion . There was a significant increase in MCOS and a decrease in retinal thickness after 3 loading injections. Stabilization of morphometric and functional results was observed after the 5th injection. Conclusion. The study shows that the efficacy of aflibercept treatment for DME is achieved with five loading injections and regular therapy. When the drug is not administered regularly, the improving effect is not achieved, which may lead to a negative attitude to treatment and withdrawal from further follow-up.