Suprachoroidal Injection Reduces Central Subfield Thickness, Improves Acuity

Suprachoroidal injections (SCI) of triamcinolone acetonide (CLS-TA) can reduce central subfield thickness (CST) and improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for patients with macular edema secondary to noninfectious uveitis, according to researchers. The results of the phase 3 PEACHTREE trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02595398) were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2021 meeting, held in New Orleans, November 12-15.

Researchers compared outcomes in unrescued individuals who received SCI of CLS-TA with rescued control individuals diagnosed with uveitic macular edema. The individuals were assigned to receive SCI CLS-TA or sham treatment. Patients received the treatment and repeated it 12 weeks after baseline. Rescue therapy was available as needed.

Unrescued CLS-TA individuals gained significantly more BCVA overall (mean 15.7 letters) compared with rescued control individuals (mean 10.9 letters P =.080). The unrescued CLS-TA group experienced a significantly greater reduction, on average, of CST compared with the control group individuals (174.0 µm vs. 148.5 µm; P =.040).

The unrescued CLS-TA group gained at least 15 letters in BCVA compared with 37% of rescued control individuals (P =.115).

The investigators reported that 13.5% of patients who underwent CLS-TA received rescue therapy compared with 71.8% of control individuals. Surgical interventions were not needed for intraocular pressure, the researchers reported.

Reference

Henry CR, Ciulla TA. Post hoc analysis of suprachoroidal CLS-TA vs. rescue therapies in macular edema associated with noninfectious uveitis. Poster presented at: The American Academy of Ophthalmology 2021 Annual Meeting. New Orleans. Abstract PO111.