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Clinical science
Effects of three intravitreal injections of aflibercept on the ocular circulation in eyes with age-related maculopathy
  1. Anna Sophie Mursch-Edlmayr1,
  2. Nikolaus Luft2,
  3. Dominika Podkowinski1,
  4. Michael Ring3,
  5. Leopold Schmetterer4,
  6. Matthias Bolz5
  1. 1 Ophthalmology, Kepler Universitatsklinikum GmbH, Linz, Austria
  2. 2 Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Munchen, Germany
  3. 3 Ophthalmology, Center for Medical Research, Johannes Kepler Universitat Linz, Linz, Austria
  4. 4 Ocular Imaging, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
  5. 5 Department of Ophthalmology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
  1. Correspondence to Dr Matthias Bolz, Department of Ophthalmology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz 4020, Austria; matthias.bolz{at}kepleruniklinikum.at

Abstract

Aims To investigate changes in ocular perfusion following three consecutive intravitreal injections with aflibercept for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods The study included 20 eyes from 20 Caucasian patients with unilateral nAMD and 20 fellow eyes. All nAMD eyes were treated with standard intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA; 2 mg). Measurements of ocular perfusion at the optic nerve head (ONH) and the choroid were performed with laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG). Measurements were conducted at baseline, 1 week after the first injection, at the time point of the second and third injection as well as 1 month after the third injection.

Results In treated eyes, mean blur rate (the main output parameter of LSFG) in the ONH microvasculature and in the choroid was significantly reduced 1 week after the first IVA treatment. The effect persisted throughout the entire follow-up period (p<0.001). No change in ocular perfusion was observed in fellow eyes.

Conclusions IVA for treatment of nAMD leads to a reduction in perfusion of the ONH and the choroid in the treated eye with no apparent effect on the fellow eye.

  • macula
  • clinical trial
  • optic nerve
  • pharmacology
  • retina

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-313919

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors ASME provided data acquisition and analysis, original draft, interpretation, oversight and final draft. NL provided original concept, oversight and final version. DP provided data acquisition. LS provided critical revising, oversight and final version. MB contributed in critical revising and final approval.

    • Funding Unrestricted research grant from Nidek.

    • Competing interests The Department of Ophthalmology, Kepler University Clinic, Johannes Kepler University has received a research grant from Nidek. ASME has received lecture fees from Nidek.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Ethics approval Approval was obtained by the local ethics committee.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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