Retinal Blood Flow in Response to an Intravitreal Injection of Ranibizumab for Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

Ranibizumab is an antibody fragment designed to inhibit the activity of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which is responsible for the neovascularization and retinal edema responsible for interference of normal vision in central retinal vein occlusion. However, VEGF has a role in the vasculature as a vasodilator where it alters the expression of tight junction proteins and upregulates the release of the vasodilator nitric oxide. Consequently, intravitreal ranibizumab injections could result in systemic inhibition of VEGF, leading to long-term retinal arteriolar vasoconstriction and potentially adverse cerebrovascular and myocardial accidents. Therefore, evaluating retinal blood flow would provide a physiological foundation to this concern and provide physicians with valuable information regarding the risks of continued ranibizumab therapy.

Given the role of VEGF as a vasodilator in the vasculature where it works to alter the expression of tight junction proteins and the production of vasoactive substances especially nitric oxide, inhibiting this molecule with ranibizumab could result in vasoconstriction in these vessels. We hypothesize that vasoconstriction and decreased retinal blood flow will be observed after an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion.