Ranibizumab for macular telangiectasia type 2 in the absence of subretinal neovascularization

To evaluate the effects of 0.3 mg or 0.5 mg of ranibizumab in eyes with macular telangiectasia type 2 without subretinal neovascularization.

Ten eyes were randomized to either 0.3 mg or 0.5 mg ranibizumab group in 1 eye only. Study eye received ranibizumab at baseline and at Months 1 and 2. Injections at Months 3, 4, and 5 were at investigator's discretion. Participants were followed monthly through 6 months with best-corrected visual acuity, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography.

For study eyes at baseline, median best-corrected visual acuity letter score was 60 (20/64 Snellen equivalent) and central subfield retinal thickness was 181.5 μm. Median number of injections was six. Median change in best-corrected visual acuity at Month 3 was 4 letters (range: -5 to 9 letters) at both doses in the study eye and 3 letters (range: -10 to 5 letters) in the untreated fellow eye. At Month 3, retinal leakage decreased 0.87 disk area and 0.76 disk area for 0.3 mg and 0.5 mg ranibizumab, respectively. Median change in central subfield retinal thickness was 1 μm and -11 µm for 0.3 mg and 0.5 mg ranibizumab, respectively.

Ranibizumab (0.3 mg or 0.5 mg) decreases leakage secondary to macular telangiectasia type 2, but accompanying improvements in best-corrected visual acuity appear similar to improvements in the untreated fellow eye where retinal thickness is relatively unchanged.