scholarly journals Complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy in patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. e0232353
Author(s):  
Victor A. Eng ◽  
Nadim Rayess ◽  
Huy V. Nguyen ◽  
Theodore Leng
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Retinal Atrophy

Visual acuity and progression of macular atrophy in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF for age-related macular degeneration

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110017
Author(s):  
Marco H Ji ◽  
Natalia F Callaway ◽  
Cassie A Ludwig ◽  
Daniel Vail ◽  
Ahmad Al-Moujahed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Geographic Atrophy ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Macular Atrophy ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
Retinal Atrophy

Purpose: Whether intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) cause retinal atrophy is still a subject of debate. We reported 13 eyes that received several injections of anti-VEGF for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with good visual acuity despite geographic atrophy on imaging. Methods: This is a case series study conducted at Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University. Patients of three retina specialists with wet AMD who received six or more intravitreal injection of anti-VEGFs with visual acuity of 20/60 or better and incomplete RPE and outer retina atrophy (iRORA) or complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA) were enrolled in this case series. Different imaging modalities were reviewed by three retina specialists comparing the baseline with the most recent exam. Results: About 13 eyes of 10 patients met the selection criteria. Eleven eyes were classified as iRORA and 2 as cRORA. Despite the development of macular atrophy on imaging after an average of 38.1 injections, eyes maintained stable visual acuity. Conclusion: The discrepancy between structural and functional findings in this cohort suggests that patients treated by anti-VEGF drugs exhibit divergent clinical outcomes for currently unknown reasons. The authors propose anti-VEGF may affect melanosomes within RPE without disrupting RPE and photoreceptors function completely. This requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Genetic biomarkers in the VEGF pathway predicting response to anti-VEGF therapy in age-related macular degeneration

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000273
Author(s):  
Irina Balikova ◽  
Laurence Postelmans ◽  
Brigitte Pasteels ◽  
Pascale Coquelet ◽  
Janet Catherine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Multiple Testing ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Multiple Testing Correction ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Vegf Pathway

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.

scholarly journals Mingjing granule, a traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamin Li ◽  
Lina Liang ◽  
Torkel Snellingen ◽  
Kai Xu ◽  
Yun Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Case Report Form ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Function Test

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.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Psychiatric Treatment to Treat a Specific Phobia of Intravitreal Injections in a Patient with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2021 ◽  
pp. 48-56
Author(s):  
Atsuta Ozaki ◽  
Hisashi Matsubara ◽  
Masahiko Sugimoto ◽  
Manami Kuze ◽  
Mineo Kondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Macular Edema ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Specific Phobia ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Intravitreal Injections ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Age Related

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.

scholarly journals Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy Disguising as Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated by Spironolactone and Anti-VEGF Combination Therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
Leonie F. Keidel ◽  
Benedikt Schworm ◽  
Siegfried G. Priglinger ◽  
Jakob Siedlecki
Keyword(s):  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Subretinal Fluid ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Therapeutic Concepts ◽  
Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy

Nonresponse of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy can often be attributed to misdiagnosis, and pathologies mimicking AMD might require different therapeutic concepts. In the following, we want to outline a case of presumed nAMD which revealed to be pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) and was successfully treated by the addition of spironolactone. A 67-year-old female patient was referred for nonresponse of nAMD on her left eye after 29 intravitreal injections of aflibercept with no complete resolution of subretinal fluid. On fundoscopy, both maculae presented with pigment epithelium alterations, while the left eye showed subretinal fluid on optical coherence tomography (OCT) with an associated pigment epithelium detachment, which revealed to contain a neovascular network on OCT angiography. There was faint leakage on fluorescence (FAG) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and some focal vascular dilation of the neovascular network on ICGA. Due to the absence of Drusen on any eye, a thick choroid, and the presence of a gravitational tract on blue autofluorescence (BAF), chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with a choroidal neovascularization, defined as PNV in the pachychoroid disease was diagnosed. Upon the addition of spironolactone to anti-VEGF treatment, choroidal thickness significantly decreased, and subretinal fluid resolution was observed and maintained for the first time. In conclusion, PNV should be ruled out in cases of presumed nAMD nonresponding to anti-VEGF. In these cases, a combination therapy of anti-VEGF and mineralocorticoid antagonists can facilitate fluid resorption.

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