As-needed treatment with ranibizumab 0.5 mg in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

作者：Biarnes Marc^*; Mones Jordi; Villalbi Joan R; Arias Lluis

来源：European Journal of Ophthalmology, 2011, 21(3): 282-289.

DOI：10.5301/EJO.2010.5766

• As-needed treatment
• Neovascular age-related macular degeneration
• Ranibizumab
• Treatment

Purpose. To describe the results obtained in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg on an as-needed basis from the start after 1 year of follow-up.
Methods. Retrospective, consecutive interventional case series of patients with all angiographic types of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (mean baseline size, 3.4 disk areas) in a tertiary retinal center (Institut de la Macula i la Retina; Barcelona, Spain). Main outcome was mean vision change; secondary outcomes were center retinal thickness change, number of injections, adverse events, and independent covariates associated with a good response.
Results. Mean visual acuity change was an increase of 1.3 letters (95% confidence interval -2.7 to +5.3), and difference between angiographic patterns did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.30). A decrease in retinal thickness of 44.6 mu m was identified (p < 0.001), with a median of 3 injections. Absence of baseline arterial hypertension, lower visual acuity, and lesions located outside the fovea were associated with a better response to therapy.
Conclusions. As-needed treatment from the start achieved stabilization of visual acuity and a moderate decrease of retinal thickness with a low number of injections, but did not achieve the same efficacy as regular monthly injections.

• 出版日期2011-6