One-Year and 18-Month Outcomes in nAMD Patient Eyes Switched to Brolucizumab Alone versus to Brolucizumab Alternating with Other Anti-VEGF Agents.

Objective: Retrospective, real-world study to evaluate visual acuity (VA), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection intervals, and central macular thickness (CMT) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) eyes switched to brolucizumab only or to brolucizumab alternating with another anti-VEGF. Methods: The overall study population comprised eyes that were given ≥1 brolucizumab injection between 1 October 2019 and 30 November 2021. The brolucizumab-only (BRO) cohort consisted of prior anti-VEGF-treated eyes treated exclusively with ≥3 brolucizumab injections over ≥12 or ≥18 months; the alternating brolucizumab (ALT) cohort comprised prior anti-VEGF-treated eyes treated with ≥2 brolucizumab injections and ≥1 other anti-VEGF over ≥12 or ≥18 months. Results: A total of 482 eyes received ≥1 brolucizumab injection during the study period. Mean VA changes from baseline were -1.1±15.1 letters (BRO cohort; n = 174) and 1.3±13.0 letters (ALT cohort; n = 47) at Month 12, and 0.0±13.5 letters (BRO cohort; n = 95) and -7.3±17.2 letters (ALT cohort; n = 29) at Month 18. Mean changes in injection intervals were +26.9±48.1 days (BRO cohort) and +11.1±17.3 days (ALT cohort) at Month 12 and +36.3±52.3 days (BRO cohort) and +14.0±19.9 days (ALT cohort) at Month 18. Mean changes in CMT were -35.2±108.1 µm (BRO cohort) and -31.5±91.2 µm (ALT cohort) at Month 12 and -38.9±75.0 µm (BRO cohort) and -9.0±59.9 µm (ALT cohort) at Month 18. Intraocular inflammation-related adverse events were recorded in 22/482 (4.6%) eyes. Conclusion: Treatment with either brolucizumab alone or brolucizumab alternating with another anti-VEGF can preserve vision, reduce CMT, and extend anti-VEGF injection intervals in patients with nAMD.

Switching to brolucizumab: injection intervals and visual, anatomical and safety outcomes at 12 and 18 months in real-world eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: The anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection interval influences treatment burden and compliance in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). This real-world study investigates visual acuity (VA), injection-interval extension, central macular thickness (CMT) and safety in nAMD eyes switched to the anti-VEGF agent brolucizumab and followed for up to 18 months. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with nAMD who were switched from other anti-VEGF agents to brolucizumab only. Patient eyes were grouped into three nested cohorts with the overall cohort receiving ≥ 1 brolucizumab injection, the second receiving ≥ 3 brolucizumab injections with a follow-up period of ≥ 12 months and the third cohort receiving ≥ 3 brolucizumab injections with a follow-up period of ≥ 18 months. Study endpoints included changes from baseline at 12 or 18 months in VA, injection intervals, and CMT. Sub-group analyses were conducted using baseline injection interval length or baseline VA as qualifiers. RESULTS: Overall, 482 eyes received ≥ 1 brolucizumab injection; 174 eyes received ≥ 3 brolucizumab injections with ≥ 12 months of follow-up, and 95 eyes received ≥ 3 brolucizumab injections with ≥ 18 months of follow-up. VA (mean [95% confidence intervals]) remained stable relative to baseline after 12 months (- 1.1 [- 3.7, 1.6] letters; p = 0.42) and 18 months (0.0 [- 3.1, 3.1] letters; p = 0.98) of brolucizumab treatment, respectively, and pre-switch injection intervals or baseline VA had no notable effect. Following the switch to brolucizumab, injection intervals were extended from baseline to month 12 by 26.9 (19.7, 34.0) days (p < 0.0001), and eyes with pre-switch injection intervals < 8 weeks were able to have their injection intervals extended by 23.6 days longer than eyes with pre-switch injection intervals ≥ 8 weeks. At 18 months, injection intervals were extended by 36.3 (25.6, 46.9) days (p < 0.0001) compared to baseline. Following switch to brolucizumab, CMT was reduced at both 12 and 18 months (12 months: - 35.2 (- 51.7, - 18.8) µm, p < 0.0001; 18 months: - 38.9 (- 54.3, - 22.0) µm, p < 0.0001). Intraocular inflammation-related adverse events were reported in 4.6% of brolucizumab-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study demonstrates that injection intervals may be significantly extended with maintained vision and reduced CMT in nAMD eyes switching to brolucizumab therapy from other anti-VEGFs.

Frequency and Symptoms of Intravitreal Silicone Oil Droplets Following Becton Dickinson and Norm-Ject Bevacizumab Injections.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine silicone oil droplet frequency and symptomatic impact in patients injected with Norm-Ject (NJ) and/or Becton Dickinson (BD) intravitreal bevacizumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 426 patients with prior bevacizumab injection(s). Symptomatic floaters questionnaire responses were compiled and statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact t test with 95% CI calculated via the modified Wald method. RESULTS: Patients who received BD intravitreal bevacizumab showed more droplets (67.2%) than those who received NJ intravitreal bevacizumab (7.8%), and droplets increased with injection quantity. However, the symptomatic patients reporting new floaters were similar (NJ: 39.22%, BD: 39.47%). [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2022;53:108-112.].

Efficacy of Macular Hole Surgery in Patients with Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2.

PURPOSE: To compare visual acuity (VA) and OCT outcomes in patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT) type 2 who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery for full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) versus those who elected to be medically managed (MM) without surgery. DESIGN: Comparative retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with IMT type 2 and FTMH. METHODS: We reviewed records within an 11-year period and collected data on VA, OCT changes, development of choroidal neovascularization, and length of follow-up. The VA measurements were standardized from Snellen to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units for statistical analysis. Two-sample t tests were used to analyze VA data. OCT changes were assessed by a single masked retinal specialist. RESULTS: There were 12 eyes in the PPV group and 26 eyes in the MM group. There was no statistically significant VA improvement in either group between initial VA recording and last follow-up. The PPV group had no significant change in VA between the preoperative visit and the visits at 3 or 12 months. OCT scans improved by 1 step in 10 patients in the PPV group. None of the patients in the MM group had OCT improvement. Choroidal neovascularization developed in 1 eye in the PPV group and 5 eyes in the MM group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant change in VA in patients who opted to have PPV to treat their IMT type 2 and FTMH compared with those who did not undergo surgery. OCT scans improved by qualitative judgment in patients who underwent surgery compared with those who opted for medical management.

Infliximab stability after reconstitution, dilution, and storage under refrigeration.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of reconstituted infliximab solutions and determine whether infliximab is suitable for compounding for potential intravitreal use. METHODS: Infliximab was reconstituted, and the solution was aliquoted and stored refrigerated. On each day of testing, an aliquot was serially diluted to concentrations ranging from 50,000 pg/mL to 69 pg/mL. Each dilution was assayed by microsphere immunoassay daily for 5 days and weekly for a total of 6 weeks. The outcome measure was median fluorescence intensity measured by dual laser flow analysis of fluorochrome-labeled secondary antibodies to infliximab bound to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-coated microspheres. RESULTS: There was an increasing median fluorescence intensity for increasing infliximab concentration in a sigmoidal dose-response curve with a variable slope that was equivalent for each time point. Each respective concentration of infliximab showed nearly equivalent median fluorescence intensity for every time point over the 6-week period. CONCLUSION: The authors found that the immunoreactivity of 2 different concentrations of infliximab stored at 4 degrees C over a 6-week period remained stable. Infliximab is suitable for compounding and could be a cost-effective intravitreal medication for use in clinical practice if further study supports its safety and efficacy.