Anti‐VEGF therapy and influence of vitreomacular traction in wet AMD

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study is to describe the results of anti Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) therapy in Wet Age Macular Degeneration (Wet‐AMD) and the posible rol of vitreomacular traction (VMT). Methods Descriptive, retrospective, interventional case series study of Wet‐AMD patients diagnosed by angiography (AFG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and treated with anti‐VEG . All patients received an initial charge course of three doses, and consecutive new doses if required by monthly follow up. Vitreomacular status was evaluated by OCT. Inactivation was defined by the absense of new subretinal fluid on OCT and AFG. Minimun follow up of six months after the last dose. Results Of 76 treated patients, 27 met the inclusion criteria, 12 men and 15 women with a mean age of 79,9 years (standar deviation of 6,2). 11 had VMT and 16 had not. 48% (13/27) of patients became inactive after initial charge course, 18% (5/27) after initial good response became active despite consecutive aditional doses and 33% (9/27) required more dosis but finally achieved inactivation, but did not improve visual acuity. Between patients with VMT there were more prevalence of patients who needed seven or more doses to stabilize the disease (p=0,003). Conclusion Consecutive dosis of anti‐VEGF after inicial charge course are needed to inactivate one third of patients, but these patients have poorer funtional results. VMT seems to be a bad prognosis factor.