The short-term effects of aflibercept on the size of choroidal neovascularization lesion in treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration as determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Sep;48(7):668-77. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22531. Epub 2016 Apr 25.

Abstract

Background and objectives: To evaluate the changes in the size of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesion using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who were switched from ranibizumab to aflibercept.

Materials and methods: In this prospective case-series, 33 eyes of 30 patients with treatment-resistant neovascular AMD were included. Treatment-resistant neovascular AMD was defined as choriodal neovascularization secondary to AMD determined by subretinal fluid and/or intraretinal fluid/cysts after more than 6 months of monthly ranibizumab therapy. Enrolled eyes were received intravitreal aflibercept injections at weeks 0, 4, and 8. Maximum area of CNV lesion in the cross-sectional area in the B-scan was measured using Heidelberg Eye Explorer software. The same cross-sectional sections containing maximum area of CNV lesion were used during the follow-up. CNV subtypes were determined based on fluorescein angiography images prior to ranibizumab therapy. Main outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), and area of CNV lesion.

Results: There were five classic (15%), seven minimally classic (21%), and 21 occult subtypes of CNV (64%). Four weeks after the third injection, BCVA improvement and reduction of the retinal thickness in nine standard ETDRS subfields were significant (both P < 0.001). Regarding and regardless of CNV subtypes, mean area of CNV lesion decreased significantly at final visit. Overall, a dry macula was achieved in 21 eyes (64%) and 12 eyes (36%) showed decreased or unchanged edema.

Conclusions: Switching to aflibercept seems to result in reduction of CNV lesion area in short-term follow-up of patients with treatment-resistant neovascular AMD. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:668-677, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: aflibercept; choroidal neovascularization; ranibizumab; spectral domain-optical coherence tomography.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / diagnostic imaging
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / drug therapy*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / pathology
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macular Degeneration / diagnostic imaging
  • Macular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Macular Degeneration / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • aflibercept
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor