1. Effects of three intravitreal injections of aflibercept on the ocular circulation in eyes with age-related maculopathy.
- Author
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Mursch-Edlmayr AS, Luft N, Podkowinski D, Ring M, Schmetterer L, and Bolz M
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Angiogenesis Inhibitors administration & dosage, Angiogenesis Inhibitors therapeutic use, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Intravitreal Injections, Laser-Doppler Flowmetry, Male, Microcirculation drug effects, Middle Aged, Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor administration & dosage, Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor therapeutic use, Recombinant Fusion Proteins administration & dosage, Recombinant Fusion Proteins therapeutic use, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A antagonists & inhibitors, Wet Macular Degeneration physiopathology, Angiogenesis Inhibitors pharmacology, Choroid blood supply, Optic Disk blood supply, Recombinant Fusion Proteins pharmacology, Wet Macular Degeneration drug therapy
- 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., Competing Interests: 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., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
- Published
- 2020
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