Abstract
BackgroundTo determine the frequency of persistent disease activity following 3 loading doses of anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, and the anatomic and demographic predictors of early persistent disease activity among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).MethodsIn a retrospective real-world cohort study, 281 consecutive patients with nAMD were reviewed at baseline and after 3 anti-VEGF injections for pre-defined indicators of disease activity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) features such as subretinal fluid, intraretinal cysts and intraretinal fluid were assessed by reading-center certified graders. Multiple logistic regression was performed on demographic and anatomic factors.ResultsAt month 3, 66.1% of patients had persistent disease activity. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement was 0.16 LogMAR for those with no disease activity compared to 0 for patients with persistent activity (p < 0.001). The significant risk factors for persistent activity at 3 months were male gender (odds ratio [OR] 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–0.93, p = 0.025), intraretinal cysts at baseline (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.67–5.20, p < 0.001) and subretinal fluid at baseline (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.62–6.18, p = 0.002). At 3 months, 58% of patients had features of activity on OCT. Patients with intraretinal cysts and intraretinal fluid at baseline had worse BCVA at month 3 compared to patients without these OCT features (0.69 vs. 0.43, p < 0.001, and 0.62 vs. 0.43, p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsIn a real-world study, 66.1% of nAMD patients have persistent disease activity after the initial loading dose, with poorer BCVA compared to those without. Baseline OCT features (intraretinal cysts and subretinal fluid) are useful predictors of persistent disease activity at month 3.
Highlights
To determine the frequency of persistent disease activity following 3 loading doses of anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, and the anatomic and demographic predictors of early persistent disease activity among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Studies have reported that the initial treatment response to anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents may be predictive of the long-term clinical outcome [4, 5]
Treatment outcomes were assessed after 3 monthly loading doses of anti-VEGF drugs (Ranibizumab, Bevacizumab or Aflibercept)
Summary
To determine the frequency of persistent disease activity following 3 loading doses of anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, and the anatomic and demographic predictors of early persistent disease activity among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Especially optical coherence tomography (OCT), have revolutionized AMD diagnosis and treatment algorithms [3]. Features such as intra-retinal fluid and sub-retinal fluid detected on OCT are assessed to determine disease activity and treatment response. Studies have reported that the initial treatment response to anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents may be predictive of the long-term clinical outcome [4, 5]. Another key knowledge gap is the factors which predict the initial, early response to treatment
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