RETINAL VASCULITIS OR VASCULAR OCCLUSION AFTER BROLUCIZUMAB FOR NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: A Systematic Review of Real-World Evidence

Retina. 2023 Jul 1;43(7):1051-1063. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003769. Epub 2023 Jun 16.

Abstract

Purpose: Retinal vasculitis or vascular occlusion (RV/RO) have been reported after brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This systematic literature review evaluated RV/RO events after brolucizumab in real-world practice.

Methods: Systematic literature searches identified 89 publications; 19 were included.

Results: Publications described 63 patients (70 eyes) with an RV/RO event following brolucizumab. Mean age was 77.6 years and 77.8% of patients were women; 32 eyes (45.7%) received one brolucizumab injection before RV/RO. Mean (range) time to event from last brolucizumab injection was 19.4 (0-63) days, with 87.5% of events occurring within 30 days. Among eyes with preevent and postevent visual acuity (VA) assessments, 22/42 eyes (52.4%) showed unchanged (±0.08 logMAR) or improved vision from last recorded preevent assessment at latest follow-up, whereas 15/42 eyes (35.7%) showed ≥0.30 logMAR (≥15 letters) VA reduction. Patients with no VA loss were on average slightly younger and had a higher proportion of nonocclusive events.

Conclusion: Most RV/RO events reported after brolucizumab in early real-world practice occurred in women. Among eyes with VA measurements, approximately half experienced VA loss; overall, about one-third had VA reduction of ≥0.30 logMAR at latest follow-up, with indications of regional variations.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Retinal Vasculitis* / chemically induced

Substances

  • brolucizumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized