Efficacy of XEN gel stent implantation combined with mitomycin C injection in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of XEN gel stent implantation combined with mitomycin C (MMC) injection in controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) and the dosage of postoperative medication for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct databases were searched from inception to August 2022 without any language restriction. All studies that compared IOP and the dose of medication before and after XEN gel stent implantation and MMC injection for OAG patients were included. Data extraction and methodological quality evaluation were performed.

Results: A total of 26 studies (2329 eyes) were involved in meta-analysis. It was revealed that IOP at 1 month after XEN implantation was significantly lower than preoperative IOP [group 1, IOP between 19.2 and 21.2 mmHg: mean difference (MD) = 7.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) [6.55, 8.66], I² = 0%, P < 0.01; group 2, IOP between 21.6 and 22.8 mmHg: MD = 5.83, 95% CI [4.94, 6.71], I² = 0%; group 3, IOP between 23.5 and 24.3 mmHg: MD = 9.22, 95% CI [8.33, 10.10], I² = 0%; group 4, IOP between 24.4 and 26.2 mmHg: MD = 11.64, 95% CI [10.49, 12.80], I² = 0%)]. Moreover, IOP at 3 months after XEN implantation was also significantly lower than preoperative IOP (MD = 8.31, 95% CI [2.54, 8.46], Z = 13.92, P < 0.00001). IOP at 6 months after XEN implantation was significantly lower than preoperative IOP, and no heterogeneity was found between two groups (group 1, IOP between 17.8 and 21.8 mmHg: MD = 5.71, 95% CI: [5.05, 6.36], I² = 0%, P < 0.01); group 2, IOP between 22.1 and 23.9 mmHg: MD = 7.92, 95% CI [7.15, 8.70], I² = 0%, P < 0.01). Low heterogeneity was noted in one group (group 3, IOP between 24.3 and 26.2 mmHg: MD = 9.32, 95% CI [8.66, 9.97], I² = 30%). It was found that IOP at 12 months after XEN implantation was significantly lower than preoperative IOP (MD = 8.11, 95% CI [7.09, 9.12], Z = 15.68, P < 0.00001). There was high heterogeneity among the different baseline IOP groups at 24-month post-surgery (CHi² = 41.74, df = 1, I² = 97.6%, P < 0.01), while no heterogeneity was identified in two groups (group 1, IOP between 19.2 and 22.1 mmHg: MD = 6.30, 95% CI [5.76, 6.85], I² = 0%, P < 0.01); group 2, IOP between 22.8 and 23.8 mmHg: MD = 9.11, 95% CI [8.45, 9.77], I² = 0%). Subgroup analysis indicated that the dosage of medication was significantly reduced at 6 months after XEN implantation (group 1, the amount of medication was 2.3-2.96: MD = 1.90, 95% CI [1.78, 2.02], I² = 0%, P < 0.01); group 2, the amount of medication was 3.2-3.3: MD = 2.59, 95% CI [2.43, 2.75], I² = 0%). Furthermore, the dosage of medication at 12 months (MD = 1.96, 95% CI [1.72, 2.21], Z = 15.80, P < 0.01) and 24 months (group 1, the amount of medication was 1.89-2.7: MD = 6.30, 95% CI [5.76, 6.85], I² = 0%, P < 0.01); group 2, the amount of medication was 2.72-3.07: MD = 9.11, 95% CI [8.45, 9.77], I² = 0%) after XEN implantation was significantly lower compared with the preoperative level.

Conclusion: XEN implantation combined with MMC injection significantly decreased IOP in OAG patients at 1, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after treatment. In addition, XEN implantation combined with MMC injection decreased the amount of medication used at 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment in OAG patients.