Efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration in vitrectomized eyes

PLoS One. 2021 Jun 10;16(6):e0252006. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252006. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in vitrectomized eyes.

Methods: The medical records were reviewed of nAMD patients treated with anti-VEGF agents who previously underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). PPV was performed with complete posterior vitreous detachment induction.

Results: A total of 44 eyes from 44 patients were included. The mean central foveal thickness (CFT) was 478.50 ± 156.93 μm at baseline, 414.25 ± 143.55 μm (86.6% of baseline) at 1 month after first injection (P < 0.001), and 386.75 ± 141.45 μm (80.8% of baseline) after monthly multiple injections (2.30 ± 1.07; range, 1-5) (P < 0.001). The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.85 ± 0.57 at baseline, 0.86 ± 0.63 after the first injection, and 0.84 ± 0.64 after monthly multiple injections. BCVA improved in 39.5% at 1 month after first injection and 45.2% at 1 month after monthly multiple injections. In the subgroup analysis, CFT of eyes with the posterior capsule decreased significantly to 85.8% and 79.8% of baseline values at 1 month after the first injection and after monthly multiple injections, respectively. CFT of eyes without the posterior capsule decreased to 91.6% and 87.4% of baseline values at 1 month after the first injection and after monthly multiple injections, respectively, without statistical significance.

Conclusion: Monthly injections of Intravitreal anti-VEGF agents induced favorable anatomical improvement and vision maintenance in vitrectomized eyes with nAMD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / complications*
  • Macular Degeneration / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / complications*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vitrectomy*

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) grant 2020R1F1A1072795, the NRF Bio & Medical Technology Development Program (Grant No. 2018M3A9B5021319) funded by the Korean government (MSIT) and a research grant from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (13-2019-003). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.