The Impact of Race on Short-term Treatment Response to Bevacizumab in Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose A model was calculated during the first Austrian coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown to estimate the effect of a short-term treatment interruption due to healthcare restrictions on visual acuity (VA) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The model was compared to the real-life outcomes before treatment re-started. Methods Retrospective data-collection of 142 eyes in 142 patients receiving repeated intravitreal injections with anti-VEGF at a retina unit in Vienna in a personalized pro-re-nata regimen prior to the COVID-19 associated lockdown, when treatment was deferred between March 16 and May 4, 2020. During the lockdown, the preliminary data was integrated into pre-existing formulae based on the natural course of the disease in untreated eyes in the long term. Patients were re-scheduled and treated after gradually opening operating rooms. The calculation model was compared to the effective VA change. Results The model calculated an overall VA loss of 3.5 ± 0.8 letters early treatment diabetes retinopathy study (ETDRS) ( p < 0.001 [95% CI:3.3;3.6]) on average compared to 2.5 ± 6 letters ETDRS ( p < 0.001 [95% CI:1.5;3.5]) as measured with a mean treatment delay of 61 ± 14 days after previously scheduled appointments. The total difference between the model exercise and the real-life outcomes accounted for 1 ± 5.9 letters ETDRS ( p = 0.051 [95% CI: 0.1;1.9]). Conclusion The herein presented calculation model might not be suitable to estimate the effective VA loss correctly over time, although untreated eyes and eyes under therapy show similarities after short-term treatment interruption. However, this study demonstrated the potentially negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on patients compromised by nAMD.

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Fluvoxamine in the Treatment of Trichotillomania: An 8-Week, Open-Label Study

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900006520 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 3 (9) ◽

pp. 64-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gary A. Christenson ◽

Scott J. Crow ◽

James E. Mitchell ◽

Thomas B. Mackenzie ◽

Ross D. Crosby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Response ◽

Term Treatment ◽

Hair Pulling ◽

Short Term ◽

Open Label ◽

Short Term Treatment ◽

Open Label Study ◽

Label Study ◽

Long Term Treatment

AbstractThis short-term, open-label study investigates short- and long-term effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine for the treatment of trichotillomania (TTM). Additionally, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that the presence of hair pulling compulsiveness is predictive of SSRI response. Nineteen subjects meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition Revised, (DSM-III-R) criteria for TTM were treated with fluvoxamine at doses up to 300 mg/day. Random regression analysis of change across time for patients who completed the study (n=14) and those who dropped out (n=5) revealed statistically significant improvements in Physician Rating Scale, hair-pulling episodes, Trichotillomania Impairment Scale, and Trichotillomania Symptom Severity Scale, but not in estimated amount of hair pulled. In addition, the percentage of patients' focused or compulsive hair-pulling symptoms was predictive of treatment response. Unfortunately, all three subjects who entered long-term treatment displayed substantial movement back toward baseline by the end of 6 months. We concluded that fluvoxamine produces moderate reductions in symptoms during the short-term treatment of TTM and that the presence of focused or compulsive hair pulling may be predictive of treatment response. However, responses may be short lived when treatment is extended.

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