AIM: To observe the clinical efficiency of intravitreal conbercept on diabetic macular edema(DME).

METHODS: This was a single arm, open-babel prospective study. Twenty eyes from 20 patients(12 males and 8 females)with DME diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and optical coherence tomography(OCT)were enrolled. Before the injection, best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study(ETDRS), non-contact tonometer, ophthalmoscope, fundus photography, fundus fluoresein angiograph(FFA), and OCT were examined. All affected eyes were treated with intravitreal conbercept 0.05mL(10mg/mL). Patients were followed up for 6 to 11mo, with a mean duration of 8.55±1.96mo. Post-treatment BCVA, CMT, leakage of macular edema and complications were compared with baseline using repeat analysis.

RESULTS: The initial average visual acuity(ETDRS letters)were 43.35±17.45, range from 9 to 70. The initial average central macular thickness(CMT)was 576.30±167.92μm, range from 337 to 987μm. The mean BCVA showed significant improvement during 1, 3, 6mo post-treatment and the latest follow up, with a mean increase of 11.2±5.9, 13.8±7.9, 15.7±6.8 and 14.7±8.6, respectively(P<0.01). The changes of BCVA between before and at 1mo after treatment were different compared with the changes between before and at 6mo(P<0.01). During the latest follow up, the mean BCVA was obviously improved in 10 eyes(50%), improved in 7 eyes(35%), stable in 3 eyes(15%). Likewise, the mean CMT significantly decreased during the follow-up period with a mean CMT reduction of 183.8±159.5, 292.9±169.0, 271.4±167.2 and 286.4±166.9μm respectively(P<0.001). The CMT at 1mo were different with that 3, 6mo and final follow-up(P<0.01). During the latest follow up, macula lutea leakage disappeared in 6 eyes(30%), decreased in 12 eyes(60%)and increased in 2 eyes(10%). No adverse events such as secondary retinal detachment or endophthalmitis were found during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Intravitreal conbercept significantly improve visual acuity and macular edema exudation.