Characteristics of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who are non-responders to intravitreal aflibercept

2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 623-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chikako Hara ◽  
Taku Wakabayashi ◽  
Hiroshi Toyama ◽  
Yoko Fukushima ◽  
Kaori Sayanagi ◽  
...  

PurposeTo investigate the frequency and patient characteristics that influence anatomic response of intravitreal aflibercept in treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).DesignRetrospective, interventional, consecutive case series.MethodsThree hundred and sixty-five eyes of 365 patients with AMD who underwent 3 monthly intravitreal aflibercept treatments with follow-up for at least 12 months were investigated. Treatment response was evaluated as follows. Responders were defined as those with complete resolution of exudation, including intraretinal oedema, subretinal fluid and pigment epithelial detachment, or more than a 100 µm decrease of central retinal thickness at 3 months compared with baseline. Non-responders were defined as patients exhibiting an increase in exudation or a decreased central retinal thickness of less than 100 µm.ResultsNineteen (5.2%) of 365 eyes were identified as non-responders. The remaining were responders to intravitreal aflibercept. The non-responders group was significantly associated with choroidal vascular hyperpermeability on indocyanine green angiography and lower frequency of subretinal hyper-reflective materials on optical coherence tomography. The central choroidal thickness at baseline and after 3 monthly injections tended to be thicker in the non-responder group than the responder group, although the differences did not meet statistical significance (p=0.066 and p=0.051, respectively). Additional treatments with either intravitreal ranibizumab or PDT in combination with aflibercept were effective in 15 (79%) of 19 non-responders.ConclusionIntravitreal aflibercept is effective for treating eye pathology in most naïve AMD cases. However, non-responsiveness may occur in small subgroup of patients with choroidal vascular hyperpermeability.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Griffin ◽  
Preston P. Richmond ◽  
John C. Olson

Purpose. To assess whether intravitreal aflibercept (2.0 mg) can effectively reduce persistent macular exudate and enhance visual acuity in ranibizumab (0.5 mg) and/or bevacizumab (1.25 mg) treatment resistant patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.Methods. This retrospective study included 47 treatment resistant eyes from 47 patients switched to intravitreal aflibercept injections after receiving a minimum of 3 injections with either ranibizumab or bevacizumab. Snellen visual acuity and optical coherence tomography were assessed just prior to the first injection (baseline) and prior to the fourth injection (final). Additionally, anatomical regions of persistent macular exudate were tracked to determine if these areas yielded varying responses to aflibercept.Results. At baseline, patients had received an average of 11.3 injections with any prior anti-VEGF drug (SD 5.96). For whole group analysis, baseline and final central retinal thickness were 370.57 µm and 295.7 µm (P≤.001), respectively. Baseline and final retinal fluid volumes were 4.81 mm3and 4.37 mm3(P≤.001), respectively. Baseline and final logMAR were 0.56 and 0.53 (P=0.301), respectively. Anatomic location of persistent exudate did not appreciably alter treatment outcome.Conclusion. Central retinal thickness and total retinal fluid volume were reduced in ranibizumab and/or bevacizumab treatment resistant patients following three aflibercept injections. No appreciable change in visual acuity was noted.


Author(s):  
Marta Zola ◽  
Elisa D’Alessandro ◽  
Mohamed Sherif ◽  
Audrey Nguyen ◽  
Dominique De Azevedo ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To assess the influence of time interval since last injection and time from baseline on central retinal thickness (CRT) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with fluid refractory to monthly anti-VEGF treatment. Methods This retrospective study included nAMD eyes with incomplete response to anti-VEGF defined by the presence of intra- or subretinal fluid on optical coherence tomography despite maximal (monthly) anti-VEGF dosing. The outcome measure was CRT, and two time variables (time from last injection ant time from baseline) were the independent factors included in the individual correlation analyses. In addition, an association analysis was performed. Results Sixty eyes of 56 patients (67.9% females, mean age: 78.7 ± 6.8 years) were included with a mean included time period of 35.6 months. A significant positive correlation between CRT and the time from last injection occurred in 24 (40%) and 25 (42%) eyes by univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. Time from baseline was significantly correlated with CRT in 29 (48.3%) and 30 (50%) eyes by univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. This correlation was positive in 12 (20%) and negative in 18 eyes (30%). No association with such correlation was found. Conclusion So-called refractory nAMD frequently shows a correlation of CRT with the interval in days from the preceding anti-VEGF injection, revealing that there is a subgroup of short-term responsiveness of the residual fluid. Moreover, slower CRT changes may occur over the years, either decrease or increase. In case of a slow CRT increase, this might require a diagnostic workup and therapeutic change.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110378
Author(s):  
Francesco Ciucci ◽  
Giuseppina Ioele ◽  
Antonio Bardocci ◽  
Giorgio Lofoco ◽  
Barbara Antonelli ◽  
...  

Purpose: This is a retrospective, single-center, non randomized interventional real life study, investigating the correlation between variability of central retinal thickness (CRT) and functional outcomes during 2 years of anti-VEGF therapy in patients treated for neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD). Background: CRT fluctuations can depend on various factors such as the correct timing of injections, the therapeutic algorithm, and the number of injections (NI) performed; it is important to understand if CRT fluctuations are responsible for worse visual outcomes and consequently to identify the correct ways to avoid or reduce them. Methods: Forty-one patients were treated for nAMD with aflibercept: 0.5 mg intravitreal aflibercept was administered every 4 weeks during the first 3 months, then bimonthly over the first year, and after the first year adopting a PRN regimen. Standard deviation of CRT (CRT/SD), BCVA, and NI were recorded. Correlation studies were performed by Pearson’s test, Ancova, and Principal Component Analysis. Results: A negative correlation was found between CRT/SD and final BCVA. In patients who lost more than 15 letters, CRT/SD mean was significantly higher in comparison with patients who lost less than 15 letters. Patients with final BCVA >65 letters showed lower CRT/SD values compared to patients with final BCVA ⩽65 letters. Multivariate analysis confirmed that in patients with higher baseline BCVA, improvement of BCVA was correlated to NI, and lower values of CRT fluctuations were observed. Conclusions: CRT fluctuations, even after an appropriate NI given per year, significantly influence BCVA; a proactive treatment algorithm appears crucial when treating patients with nAMD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinne Fulcher ◽  
Charlotte A Hazel ◽  
Ian Pacey ◽  
Hasan Ali ◽  
Faruque D Ghanchi

Background/objectives: There is a significant variation in the way neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients respond to anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Both the financial and time cost of treatment are significant. As such, being able to predict patient response to treatment is valuable. Subjects/methods: 72 eyes treated with intravitreal aflibercept were retrospectively included in analysis. For each subject, visual acuity (letters) and central retinal thickness (µm) at baseline, second, third and fourth visits, as well as 12-month visits, were collated; a plot of visual acuity versus time was generated and a slope of the first three (slope3) and first four (slope4) visits was calculated. Differences in visual acuity at each visit compared to baseline were determined, as well as percentage differences in central retinal thickness at each visit compared to baseline. Lesion sub-type and the presence of fluid and haemorrhage were also recorded. Results: The average change in visual acuity over 12 months was +3.2 ± 13.4 letters with 91.2% of patients losing <15 letters. Slope4 was the only significant predictive factor for ‘visual acuity change over 12 months’ ( p < 0.001). Change in central retinal thickness, lesion sub-type, haemorrhage at baseline and the location of fluid at baseline were not useful predictive factors in long-term outcome. Conclusion: Aflibercept is an effective treatment option for neovascular age-related macular degeneration; however, the long-term response should not be predicted until at least three loading dose injections have been given. Visual acuity measures at each visit should be examined, as it is the trend in visual acuity across the first four visits (slope4) rather than the difference in visual acuity between two visits that is the predictive factor.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212096874
Author(s):  
María Cinta Puell ◽  
Francisco Javier Hurtado-Ceña ◽  
María Jesús Pérez-Carrasco ◽  
Inés Contreras

Purpose/Aim: To examine whether central retinal thickness (CRT) is related to mesopic visual acuity (VA) and low luminance deficit (LLD, difference between photopic and mesopic VA) in eyes with early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 50 pseudophakic subjects older than 63 years were divided into three groups (no AMD, early AMD and intermediate AMD). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to measure CRT in the 1 mm-central-area. Best-corrected distance VA was measured under photopic or mesopic luminance conditions and LLD calculated. Subjects were stratified by VA impairment to compare CRTs across these groups. Relationships were examined by stepwise multiple linear regression. Results: No significant differences in mean CRT, photopic and mesopic VA or LLD were detected between the groups no AMD, early AMD and intermediate AMD. However, mean CRTs were 20 microns and 18 microns thicker in the eyes with impaired mesopic VA (> 0.3 logMAR) and impaired LLD (⩾ 0.3 logMAR) compared to the eyes with non-impaired VA or LLD respectively (both p < 0.01). CRT and mesopic pupil size were independent predictors of mesopic VA ( p  = 0.001). CRT emerged as the only independent predictor of LLD ( p  = 0.004). Conclusions: Increased CRT was linked to worse retinal function when measured under mesopic conditions in eyes without AMD and eyes with early to intermediate AMD. SD-OCT imaging combined with VA measurements under low luminance conditions could be a useful tool to detect early AMD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 230-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisashi Matsubara ◽  
Ryohei Miyata ◽  
Maki Kobayashi ◽  
Hideyuki Tsukitome ◽  
Kengo Ikesugi ◽  
...  

Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are widely used to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Although these treatments are effective, multiple injections have recently been recommended to ensure that there is a good long-term prognosis. However, sustained intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations have been reported to develop after multiple injections of anti-VEGF agents. We present our findings of a case of uncontrolled and persistent IOP elevation after switching from intravitreal ranibizumab injections to intravitreal aflibercept injections. A 74-year-old Japanese man without a history of glaucoma underwent 22 ranibizumab injections for nAMD and suddenly developed an elevated IOP after the 22nd injection. Although the subsequent medical treatment led to normalization of his IOP, the subretinal fluid under the central fovea remained even after the 25th injection of ranibizumab. Thus, ranibizumab treatment was switched to bimonthly intravitreal aflibercept injections in conjunction with glaucoma medications. His IOP recovered to within the normal range; however, after the 11th aflibercept injection, there was a sudden elevation of his IOP in spite of the continued glaucoma medications. Due to this sustained IOP elevation, his aflibercept injections were suspended for 16 weeks. Because his IOP could not be normalized by a full glaucoma medication regimen, the patient underwent trabeculotomy, which resulted in a lowering of the IOP to normal levels. We conclude that patients who receive serial intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents need to be closely monitored because severe and sustained ocular hypertension can develop.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Figurska ◽  
Marek Rękas

Background and Objectives: Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is a chronic, progressive disease of the central part of the retina. Standard treatment for wAMD consists of multiple intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. The study goal was to evaluate the three-year effectiveness of wAMD treatment with aflibercept and ranibizumab as part of the therapeutic program in routine clinical practice. Materials and Methods: 1430 patients (possessing 1430 wAMD eyes) with median age of 78.0 years (71.0, 83.0) were enrolled in a non-randomized, retrospective, observational, multicenter study; 804 (56.2%) eyes were treatment-naïve. Therapy was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the treatment program (the fixed or pro re nata regimen). Results: After the first year of treatment, there was a gain of 2.03 (12.15) letters; after the second, 0.94 (13.72) (p ˂ 0.001); and after the third, 0.17 (14.05) (p ˂ 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the central retinal thickness. In the first year, the patients received 7.00 (5.00, 8.00) injections. In the following years, a significantly lower number of injections (4.00 (2.00, 5.00)) was administered. After the first year, there was a significant difference in the distribution of the best corrected visual acuity according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol, with more frequent values in the ranges > 35 ≤ 70 for this parameter and > 70 letters in the treatment naïve eye subgroup. After the first year, central retinal thickness in treatment-naïve eyes was significantly reduced. Conclusions: Regular treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration as part of the treatment program achieves functional stabilization and significant morphological improvement over a long-term, three-year follow-up, with significantly fewer injections needed after the first year of treatment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (45) ◽  
pp. 1790-1797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Lukács ◽  
Miklós Resch ◽  
András Papp ◽  
Antal Szabó ◽  
Ágnes Borbándy ◽  
...  

Introduction: The results of intravitreal ranibizumab treatment for exsudative age-related macular degeneration have been favourable until this time. Aim: To evaluate the two-year functional and anatomic results of intravitreal ranibizumab treatment. Method: 46 patients (age: 75±9.1 years) were included in a prospective single center study. Treatment regimen was the following: monthly 0.5 mg ranibizumab was administered in the first 3 months, and later as required (pro re nata). The change of best corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness was followed. Results: The visus change at the end of the follow-up time was not statistically significant compared to baseline (p = 0.760) and the at the end of the first year (p = 0.154). Central retinal thickness decreased significantly compared to baseline (p = 0.000001), but the change was not statistically significant compared to the end of the first year (p = 0.875). Conclusions: Patients with neovascular macular degeneration treated with intravitreal ranibizumab using pro re nata regimen have stable visus for long term, and the exsudation could be reduced efficiently. Orv. Hetil., 154(45), 1790–1797.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 251584142110228
Author(s):  
Dilan Yildiz ◽  
Akin Cakir ◽  
Burak Erden ◽  
Selim Bolukbasi ◽  
Serkan Erdenöz ◽  
...  

Objective: To compare the anatomical and functional outcomes of intensive and relaxed intravitreal aflibercept regimen in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods: The medical records of 50 eyes of 50 patients with treatment-naive neovascular age-related macular degeneration, who underwent intravitreal aflibercept therapy in the Retinal Department of University of Health Sciences Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey), were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic features and best-corrected visual acuities at baseline and at 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th-, 6th-, 10th- and 12th- months, optical coherence tomography measurements, presence of intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid and intraocular pressure values were studied. The patients were divided into two groups: intensive (subretinal fluid intolerant) and relaxed (<200 microns subretinal fluid tolerated) intravitreal aflibercept regimens. Results: The change in the mean best-corrected visual acuities from baseline to 12th month was 13.72 ± 33.97 letters in the intensive treatment group and 8.68 ± 27.22 in the relaxed group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups ( p = 0.566). Similar proportions of both groups achieved ⩾10 letters gain (%48 vs. %40, respectively; p = 0.755) and ⩾10 letters loss (%20 vs. %24, respectively; p = 0.755). The mean central subfield thickness values decreased statistically significantly in both groups ( p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups (442.40 ± 161.32 to 318.0 ± 63.10 vs. 431.64 ± 151.52 to 303.08 ± 140.91, respectively; p = 0.724). The mean total injection numbers were significantly lower in the relaxed group (6.4 ± 1.65 vs. 4.8 ± 1.45, respectively; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Relaxed intravitreal aflibercept regimen has comparable efficiency and safety outcomes at 12 months with intensive intravitreal aflibercept regimen with fewer injections in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.


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