AIM: To investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab on the surgical outcomes and complications of PDR patients.

METHODS: We selected 84 patients with 106 eyes who were scheduled to undergo PPV surgery in our hospital from 01-2016/01-2018. According to the random number table method, the observation group and the control group were divided into 42 cases. Both groups were treated with PPV surgery, and the observation group was given a vitreous injection of ranibizumab before surgery. The BCVA, macular foveal thickness, serum VEGF, GAS6, SDF-1, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups before and after surgery.

RESULTS: There was no difference in BCVA between the two groups before operation(P>0.05). At 3mo after operation, the BCVA of the observation group was significantly better than that of the control group(P<0.05). At 1wk postoperatively, the foveal thickness of the observation group was smaller than that of the control group(P<0.05). At 3mo after operation, there was no difference in the thickness of the foveal fove between the two groups(P>0.05). There were no differences in serum VEGF, GAS6 and SDF-1 levels between the two groups before surgery(P<0.05). At 1wk postoperatively, the serum levels of VEGF, GAS6 and SDF-1 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). The complication rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(5.9% vs 20.0%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in patients with PDR can significantly reduce macular thickness, serum VEGF, GAS6, and SDF-1 levels, improve visual acuity after surgery, and reduce the incidence of surgical complications.