Benefits of aflibercept treatment for age-related macular degeneration patients with good best-corrected visual acuity at baseline

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 8;8(1):58. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18255-4.

Abstract

Currently, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is treated while patients exhibit good best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). However, previous clinical trials only include patients with poor BCVA. We prospectively analyzed the benefits of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) treatment for AMD patients exhibiting good BCVA at baseline. Twenty-nine treatment-naive AMD patients (29 eyes) with BCVA better than 0.6 (74 letters in ETDRS chart) were treated with IVA once a month for 3 months and every 2 months thereafter with no additional treatments. Improvement in mean BCVA, measured using the conventional Landolt C chart, contrast VA chart, and functional VA (FVA) system, and reductions in mean central retinal thickness (CRT), central choroidal thickness, macular volume (MV), and choroidal area on optical coherence tomography images were observed at 6 and 12 months. Improvements in contrast VA and FVA scores, in contrast to conventional BCVA, correlated with MV reduction; no VA scores correlated with a reduced CRT. The MV correlated with choroidal area after IVA. No severe adverse events occurred. IVA improved visual function, retinal condition, and quality of life evaluated by Visual Function Questionnaire, and was beneficial in these patients. The contrast VA and FVA scores and MVs, which detect subtle changes, helped demonstrate the benefits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Choroid / drug effects
  • Choroid / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macular Degeneration / diagnosis*
  • Macular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / administration & dosage
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retina / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity* / drug effects

Substances

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