Original articleEffects of Ranibizumab in Patients with Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization Attributable to Age-related Macular Degeneration
Section snippets
Methods
In this prospective study, we enrolled 138 patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. Before determination of full eligibility, informed consent was obtained from all patients. For inclusion in the study, patients had to be at least 50 years old, have a BCVA of 20/320 to 20/32 (Snellen equivalent) obtained using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart, and have primary or recurrent subfoveal CNV attributable to neovascular AMD on 1 or both eyes. If both eyes were eligible, 1
Results
A total of 138 patients (89 female, 49 male) aged from 51 to 94 years (mean, 76.5 ± 8.9 years) were included in the analysis. Patient demographics, previous medical history, and FA characteristics are presented in Table 1. At BL, the main presenting symptom was a decrease in BCVA. It was associated with metamorphopsia in all patients. Inability to read or drive, loss of stereopsis, altered color vision, and flashes of light were common associated symptoms. Mean follow-up time was 24 ± 1.9
Discussion
Our study showed that a variable-dosing regimen of ranibizumab 0.5 mg can be efficient in reducing sub and intraretinal edema (Figure) and significantly improving VA. Consideration of OCT-findings, FA, and clinical signs for the retreatment decision in a monthly reevaluation setting allowed promising results over a period of 24 months.
Improvements in BCVA in the therapy for neovascular AMD were first demonstrated with a fixed-dosing regimen of ranibizumab in the phase III clinical trials ANCHOR
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