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Treat-and-extend protocol for AMD improves visual acuity, eases treatment burden
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A treat-and-extend anti-VEGF treatment regimen for neovascular age-related macular degeneration yielded visual outcomes similar to those of the ANCHOR and MARINA studies.
The prospective study included 120 patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD.
Patients received three initial monthly injections of Lucentis 0.5 mg (ranibizumab, Genentech) or Avastin 1.25 mg (bevacizumab, Genentech). Eyes with signs of CNV, a five-letter loss of visual acuity or persistent hemorrhage subsequently received injections every 4 weeks until signs of CNV activity ceased.
When CNV disappeared, the next injection was delayed 2 weeks to a maximum of 12 weeks. When CNV persisted, the interval was reduced by 2 weeks.
Patients received a mean 8.6 injections in the first year and 5.6 injections in the second year.
Mean ETDRS visual acuity improved by 9.5 letters at 12 months and eight letters at 24 months.
Visual acuity decreased by less than 15 letters in 95% of patients at 24 months; 37 patients (30.8%) gained 15 or more letters.
Patients with lower baseline visual acuity tended to gain more letters after treatment.
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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