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'Real world' diabetic macular edema treatment outcomes lag behind trial outcomes
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In a "real world scenario," one presenter found that outcomes of as-needed anti-VEGF treatment for diabetic macular edema lagged behind outcomes reported in controlled clinical trials.
"Our picture of real world experience may be influenced by the baseline characteristics of the studied population, which significantly differed from that of large randomized trials, and by the loose regimen applied in this real world scenario," Paolo Lanzetta, MD, and colleagues said in a poster presentation here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
In a retrospective chart review of 55 eyes of 43 patients who were treated with 1 mg Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) at physician discretion over 12 months, the authors found best corrected visual acuity, the primary outcome, improved on average by –0.03 ± 0.19.
Of the patients, who had all undergone previous treatment before referral to one center, 29 had undergone laser treatments, 19 had undergone intravitreal injections, and 11 had undergone steroid injections.
"Regarding [as-needed] approach, patients should be seen on a monthly basis to determine whether or not treatment is needed," Dr. Lanzetta said while explaining the poster.
"Results from sponsored trials may not entirely apply to real world [diabetic macular edema] population and [as-needed] regimens with strict follow-up may be difficult to achieve," the study authors said.
- Disclosure: Dr. Lanzetta has financial relationships with Allergan, Bayer, Iridex and Novartis.