Table 2 Comparison between groups regarding percentage change in clinical scoring (CS), visual analogue scale (VAS) and total atrophic area (TAA) in different study intervals

CS [mean (SD)]

Base-2w

 − 14.00 (15.54)

 − 9.33 (12.65)

 − 8.67 (14.42)

2w–4w

 − 10.00 (21.08)

 − 5 (15.8)

 − 21 (27.3)

4w–8w

 − 10.00 (21.08)

 − 20.00 (25.82)

0 (0)

Base-8w

 − 32.00 (24.25)

 − 31.33 ± 28.07

 − 28.67 (26.26) 0.956

8w–12w

 − 70.00 (25.82)

 − 45.00 (43.78)

 − 30 (42.16) 0.078

VAS [mean (SD)]

Base-2w

 − 70.21 (15.82)^a

 − 66.22 (18.66)^a

 − 18.27 (8.88)^b

Base-4w

 − 77.17 (32.36)^a

 − 80.48 (24.03)^a

 − 26.20 (11.12)^b

Base-8w

 − 100.00 (0.00)

 − 81.67 (29.11)

 − 62.51(41.60)

Base-8w

 − 100.00 (0.00)

 − 97.64 (4.99)

 − 75.83 (27.47)

8w–12w

Not computed

 − 100.00 ± 0

 − 90.00 (22.36)

Base-2w

 − 22.56 (8.00)^a

 − 30.16 (12.74)^a

 − 16.08 (8.36)^b

TAA [mean (SD)

Base-4w

 − 28.46 (10.39)^a

 − 28.54 (11.47)^a

 − 14.64 (6.19)^b

Base-8w

 − 32.99 (14.86)

 − 36.11 (12.68)

 − 22.72 (18.35)

Base-8w

 − 63.23 (9.52)^a

 − 67.75 (11.68)^a

 − 43.97 (15.9)^b

8w–12w

 − 62.41 (2.64)^a

 − 43.33 (19.9)^a

 − 29.6 (7.92)^b