Aflibercept as a Second Line Therapy for Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration in Israel (ASLI) study.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate an early switch to aflibecept in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) showing partial or lack of response for initial therapy with bevacizumab.MethodsThe Aflibercept as a Second Line Therapy for Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration in Israel (ASLI) was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm clinical trial. Eyes with nvAMD having incomplete response to 3-9 prior bevacizumab injections were recruited. Three monthly intravitreal aflibercept (2 mg) injections were administered, followed by two bi-monthly injections and a final examination at week 28. An optional injection was allowed at week 20.ResultsForty-seven eyes of 46 patients (mean±SD age 76±8 years) were recruited. The mean number of prior bevacizumab injections was 5.5±2.9. The mean visual acuity improved from 60.3±10 ETDRS letters at baseline to 63.1±15 letters at week 28 (P=0.02, paired t-test). The central subfield thickness (CST) reduced from 409±127 micron at baseline to 330±110 microns at week 4 (P=0.0002; paired t-test), and 277±70 microns at week 28 (P=0.00002; paired t-test). Twenty-two eyes had three to five prior bevacizumab injections (mean 5.1±0.7), and 25 eyes had six to nine prior injections (7.32±1.2). Both groups had reduced CST from baseline to week 28 (P=0.0004 and P=0.0007; paired t-test, respectively). Thirty-five (75%) eyes required the optional additional aflibercept injection at week 20.ConclusionsThe ASLI study demonstrated improved BCVA and reduced CST following an early switch to aflibercept therapy in eyes with prior incomplete response to initial therapy with three to nine bevacizumab injections.

Fellow eye effect of unilateral intravitreal bevacizumab injection in eyes with diabetic macular edema.

AIMS: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds are routinely used for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). We aim to evaluate for the existence and magnitude of treatment effect on fellow un-injected eyes. METHODS: A consecutive group of patients with bilateral DME who received unilateral bevacizumab injections was retrospectively evaluated. Data collected included demographics, ophthalmic and systemic findings, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of macular thickness. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were evaluated. Mean follow-up was 245 days (range: 30-800), and the mean number of bevacizumab injections was 3.6 (range: 1-11). At end of follow-up, the mean (SD) OCT central subfield thickness reduced by 72 ± 112 micron in the injected eye (from 469 ± 139 to 397 ± 120 micron; P=0.001), while in the non-injected eye it reduced by 49 ± 75 micron (from 380 ± 130 to 331 ± 106 micron; P<0.001). Sixteen injected eyes (45.7%) showed central subfield thickness reduction of ≥50 micron while 10 (28.6%) non-injected eyes showed such thickness reduction. Improved VA following treatment was detected in 14 (40%) injected eyes and in 15 (43%) non-injected eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral bevacizumab injections in patients with bilateral DME are often associated with bilateral response. SUMMARY STATEMENT: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds are routinely used for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). In this retrospective study, we show that unilateral bevacizumab injections often result in reduction of the macular thickness in the fellow un-injected eye.