Clinical Study of “Lingqi Huangban Granule” in Treating Choroidal Neovascularisation in Pathologic Myopia

Abstract

Objectives: To study the therapeutic effects of “ Lingqi Huangban Granule ” (LQHB) combined with intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) for choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in pathologic myopia (PM). Methods: This was a prospective, comparative, interventional study. Eighty eyes of eighty consecutive patients with myopic CNV were randomized into control group (IVR, 40 eyes) and integrative therapy group (IVR + LQHB, 40 eyes), each with a follow-up period of 12 months. IVR was given with an “ on demand ” regimen (Pro re nata, PRN). Final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and its change from baseline were the main outcome measures. Changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were the secondary outcome measures. Results: BCVA of patients in the integrative group improved significantly (from 47.10 ± 13.51 letters to 90.72 ± 12.98 letter, P < 0.05), more than in the control group (from 42.90 ± 13.18 letters to 69.18 ± 13.21 letters, P < 0.05) since the third month after the initial treatment to the end of the follow-up. Mean OCT CRT reduced from 364.75 ± 69.31 to 278.93 ± 33.05 um (P < 0.05) in the control group and from 370.73 ± 65.31 to 271.73 ± 46.44 um (P < 0.05) in the integrative group, respectively. The mean number of intravitreal injections in the 1-year follow-up was also reduced. No ocular or systemic side effects were observed. Conclusion: LQHB combined with IVR therapy was an effective treatment for stabilizing and improving vision with fewer intravitreal injections. It appears to be an interesting option for this type of patient.