Comparison of efficacy of Fenofibrate versus Bevacizumab in the reduction of diabetic macular edema.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of fenofibrate versus bevacizumab in the reduction of diabetic macular edema (DME).

METHOD: Ninety patients were divided into two groups. Group A was given capsule fenofibrate 200mg orally once daily. Group B was injected with three intravitreal bevacizumab injections at one monthly interval. Patients were then called for follow up visits at the end of the 3rd, 6th and 12th month. On every visit, ocular and systemic investigations were repeated. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 and presented in the form of tables and graphs.

RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of age were 58.37 ± 5.48 while age range was 51-70 years. Patients were divided into three different age groups. Most of the patients belonged to age group of 51-57 years (50%). 59% patients were females. Grouping of patients according to HbA1c level showed that it had a definite effect on the reduction of central macular thickness (CMT). 29.17% reduction was seen in patients with 6.5 to 7.5% HbA1c. However, cholesterol level was not found to have a significant effect on final outcome (p-value = 0.763). Statistically significant improvement in visual acuity (VA) was found in group B (p-value = 0.05). Efficacy of fenofibrate versus that of bevacizumab in the reduction of CMT was found out to be 28.9% and 11.11% respectively with p-value 0.03.

CONCLUSION: Fenofibrate is more efficacious than intravitreal bevacizumab in the reduction of DME in the long run. It is especially useful in patients who are phobic to intravitreal injections.

KEYWORDS: Fenofibrate, bevacizumab, diabetic macular edema.