One-Year Outcomes following Intravitreal Aflibercept for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Japanese Patients: The APOLLO Study

Ophthalmologica. 2017;238(3):163-171. doi: 10.1159/000477448. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate 1-year outcomes of intravitreal injections of aflibercept (IVA) in Japanese polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, single-arm multicenter clinical trial, treatment-naïve PCV patients received IVA (2.0 mg) every 2 months, after 3 initial monthly doses. The primary endpoint assessed was the proportion of patients maintaining baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1 year.

Results: Fifty eyes with PCV were included in the study. BCVA was maintained or improved in 97.6% of the patients. Mean logMAR BCVA at baseline was 0.33, and had improved to 0.12 logMAR 1 year after the initiation of aflibercept treatment (p < 0.001). Mean central foveal thickness decreased from 356 to 239 μm (p < 0.001). Complete regression of polypoidal lesions was seen in 72.5% after 1 year of treatment.

Conclusions: One year of IVA resulted in stabilization of BCVA and anatomical improvement in Japanese PCV patients.

Keywords: 1-year outcome; Aflibercept; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Choroid / blood supply*
  • Choroid / pathology
  • Choroid Diseases / diagnosis
  • Choroid Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Choroid Diseases / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyps / diagnosis
  • Polyps / drug therapy*
  • Polyps / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

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