Imaging Features of Retinal Vasculitis and/or Retinal Vascular Occlusion after Brolucizumab Treatment in the Postmarketing Setting

Abstract

The aim of this analysis was to characterize the spectrum of inflammatory changes arising from brolucizumab use in routine clinical practice. Retrospective analysis of fluorescein angiography (FA), fundus photography (FP) and OCT images taken at the time of adverse event. Brolucizumab-treated patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration with retinal vasculitis (RV) and/or retinal vascular occlusion (RO) reported to Novartis Patient Safety between February 2020 and January2021. Ocular images were reviewed by an external reading center using predefined grading lists for FA, FP, and OCT. Classification of images, the most common imaging features of RV and/or RO by each imaging modality, and the anatomical location of the adverse event in relation to the macula. Gradable images (N= 475; 222 eyes; 198 patients) were classified as RV only (n= 72); RO only (n=9), RV+ RO (n= 63); posterior segment intraocular inflammation (n= 31); or none by imaging (n= 47). Of the 144 eyes with RV and/or RO, the most common imaging features were vascular leakage on FA, perivascular sheathing on FP, and hyperreflective dots in the vitreous humor on OCT. Retinal vascular occlusion was mainly branched and arterial, affecting multiple vessels. Although no distinct inflammatory phenotype pathognomonic to brolucizumab-related inflammation was identified, this study increases our understanding of the spectrum of posterior segment inflammatory changes that may occur in brolucizumab-treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients, highlighting the potential value of widefield retinal imaging and angiography to detect these inflammatory adverse events. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.