scholarly journals Dexamethasone intravitreal implant combined with anti-VEGF in patients with neovascular age related macular degeneration resistant to anti-VEGF alone

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Damico Ricci ◽  
E. Giancipoli ◽  
F. Boscia ◽  
G. Zasa ◽  
G. Sotgiu ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bozho Todorich ◽  
Aristomenis Thanos ◽  
Yoshihiro Yonekawa ◽  
Gerta Mane ◽  
Madeleine Hasbrook ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant in combination with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Methods: This study was designed as a single-center, retrospective interventional case series. Consecutive patients with treatment-resistant nvAMD underwent simultaneous combined injection of anti-VEGF agent and dexamethasone intravitreal implant. Eighteen patients with mean age of 81.5 years were included. Patients received an average of 26.3 anti-VEGF injections before dual therapy, with a mean follow-up of 8.2 months after dual therapy. Results: Dual therapy produced a significant mean decrease in central foveal thickness (126.3 μm), compared to a mean increase in 29.9 μm when treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy ( P = .0017). Patients also had a mean decrease in macular cube volume of −0.85 mm3 with dual therapy compared to anti-VEGF monotherapy ( P = .0014). There was a moderate correlation between the number of prior anti-VEGF injections and the magnitude of anatomic response, suggesting that shorter disease duration may positively influence response to combined treatment. Although there was a slight trend toward improved mean visual acuity after dual therapy, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Nevertheless, with combination treatment, 33% of patients gained 1 or more lines of vision. Dual therapy resulted in a significantly lower number of required anti-VEGF injections (4.25 vs 5.33) and an increase in the anti-VEGF injection-free interval to 1.41 months from 1.12 months during the 6 months following dual therapy compared to the same interval before dual therapy. Dual therapy was well tolerated; 2 eyes developed mild intraocular pressure elevation effectively managed with topical therapy and 1 patient developed worsening cataract. Conclusions: Combined treatment of anti-VEGF with dexamethasone intravitreal implant is a viable alternative for treatment-resistant nvAMD and may reduce treatment burden. Earlier treatment with dual therapy may be beneficial to maximize anatomic and visual outcomes in these patients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 234 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baruch D. Kuppermann ◽  
Michaella Goldstein ◽  
Raj K. Maturi ◽  
Ayala Pollack ◽  
Michael Singer ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg (DEX) as adjunctive therapy to ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Procedures: This was a 6-month, single-masked, multicenter study. Patients were randomized to DEX implant (n = 123) or sham procedure (n = 120) and received 2 protocol-mandated intravitreal ranibizumab injections. The main outcome measure was injection-free interval to first as-needed ranibizumab injection. Results: DEX increased the injection-free interval versus sham (50th percentile, 34 vs. 29 days; 75th percentile, 85 vs. 56 days; p = 0.016). 8.3% of DEX versus 2.5% of sham-treated patients did not require rescue ranibizumab (p = 0.048). Visual acuity and retinal thickness outcomes were similar in DEX and sham-treated patients. Only reports of conjunctival hemorrhage (18.2 vs. 8.5%) and intraocular pressure elevation (13.2 vs. 4.2%) were significantly different in the DEX versus the sham treatment groups. Conclusion: DEX reduced the need for adjunctive ranibizumab treatment and showed acceptable tolerability in nvAMD patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000273
Author(s):  
Irina Balikova ◽  
Laurence Postelmans ◽  
Brigitte Pasteels ◽  
Pascale Coquelet ◽  
Janet Catherine ◽  
...  

ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment. Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are the standard treatment for wet ARMD. There is however, variability in patient responses, suggesting patient-specific factors influencing drug efficacy. We tested whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding VEGF pathway members contribute to therapy response.Methods and analysisA retrospective cohort of 281 European wet ARMD patients treated with anti-VEGF was genotyped for 138 tagging SNPs in the VEGF pathway. Per patient, we collected best corrected visual acuity at baseline, after three loading injections and at 12 months. We also registered the injection number and changes in retinal morphology after three loading injections (central foveal thickness (CFT), intraretinal cysts and serous neuroepithelium detachment). Changes in CFT after 3 months were our primary outcome measure. Association of SNPs to response was assessed by binomial logistic regression. Replication was attempted by associating visual acuity changes to genotypes in an independent Japanese cohort.ResultsAssociation with treatment response was detected for seven SNPs, including in FLT4 (rs55667289: OR=0.746, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.88, p=0.0005) and KDR (rs7691507: OR=1.056, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.10, p=0.005; and rs2305945: OR=0.963, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.00, p=0.0472). Only association with rs55667289 in FLT4 survived multiple testing correction. This SNP was unavailable for testing in the replication cohort. Of six SNPs tested for replication, one was significant although not after multiple testing correction.ConclusionIdentifying genetic variants that define treatment response can help to develop individualised therapeutic approaches for wet ARMD patients and may point towards new targets in non-responders.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamin Li ◽  
Lina Liang ◽  
Torkel Snellingen ◽  
Kai Xu ◽  
Yun Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss and blindness among the older people aged 50 and over. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have resulted in improving patient outcomes, there are limitations associated with these treatments. In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat eye diseases for more than 2000 years. Previous studies have shown that TCM may be beneficial for nAMD patients. However, explicit evidence has not been obtained. The purpose of the present trial is to examine the efficacy and safety of the Mingjing granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, for nAMD patients. Methods/design This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of Mingjing granule as an add-on to intravitreous ranibizumab for nAMD. One hundred eighty nAMD patients from six hospitals in China will be enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly allocated into two groups, 90 in each. All participants will receive a 24-week treatment and then be followed up for another 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the mean change of best-corrected visual acuity at week 24 and 48 as compared to the baseline. The secondary outcomes include mean change in central retinal thickness, area of retinal hemorrhage and exudation, and TCM syndrome score, mean number of intravitreal ranibizumab injection, and total cost of the treatment. Indexes of safety include blood regular test, urine regular test, liver function test, renal function test, and electrocardiogram from baseline to weeks 24 and 48. Qualitative control and some standard operating processes will be formed throughout the trial. Any ocular or systemic adverse events will be treated suitably, and related data will be recorded accurately and completely in the case report form. Discussion Based on previous empirical and animal laboratory studies, this study will address the question of whether Mingjing granule could contribute to improving efficacy, safety, and efficiency with need for fewer intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF, improving compliance and visual outcomes in the management of persons with nAMD. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn), ChiCTR2000035990. Registered on 21 August 2020.


2021 ◽  
pp. 48-56
Author(s):  
Atsuta Ozaki ◽  
Hisashi Matsubara ◽  
Masahiko Sugimoto ◽  
Manami Kuze ◽  
Mineo Kondo ◽  
...  

Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) is essential for the treatment of macular diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration and macular edema. Although continued treatment is needed to maintain good vision, some patients cannot continue such injections for various reasons, including specific phobias. Here, we report a case of a patient with a specific phobia of intravitreal injections who could resume treatment after undergoing combined drug and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). A 74-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with retinal angiomatous proliferation by fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography was treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. However, at 8 months after the first treatment, he became difficult to treat because of a phobia of injections. He was treated with photodynamic therapy, but his macular edema did not improve. After a psychiatric consultation, he was diagnosed with a specific phobia of intravitreal injections. Combined drug and CBT enabled him to resume receiving intravitreal injections. This case demonstrates that a specific phobia of intravitreal injections may benefit from combined drug and CBT. In this regard, some patients with high anxiety and fear of intravitreal injections should be referred to a psychiatrist at an early stage.


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