Effects of blood HbA1c and mean platelet volume levels in diabetic macular edema patients who received dexamethasone implant

PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate the effects of blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and mean platelet volume (MPV) levels in patients with diabetic macular edema who received a dexamethasone implant (DEXI).
METHODS: Twenty-two Type 2 diabetic patients with pre-existing HbA1c and MPV measurements before injection were selected for the study. These patients received an intravitreal DEXI injection. Optical coherence tomography images and medical records before and after the injection were evaluated retrospectively.
RESULTS: The mean visual acuity level before and after the injection was 0.21±0.1 and 0.30±0.09, respectively. The median values for patient age, HbA1c, and MPV were 65 years, 7.4, and 10.6, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity levels and foveal macular thickness changes before and after the injection between groups with MPV levels above and below 10.6 (p>0.05). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity changes before and after the injection between patients under and over 65 years of age (p>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference in foveal macular thickness changes before the injection between patients under and over 65 years of age (p>0.05). However, a statistically significant decrease in central macular thickness was observed after the injection in patients under 65 years of age compared to those over 65 years of age (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: MPV and HbA1c values have been shown to be markers of inflammation and poor disease control in diabetic patients. Our study indicates that there is no correlation between the response to DEXI injection and MPV or HbA1c values.