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Both fixed-dose, as-needed aflibercept regimens resolve polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
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Intravitreal aflibercept, given either as needed or on a fixed schedule, improved vision and was well tolerated in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, according to a Japanese study.
The prospective study included 42 treatment-naïve eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Twenty-five eyes received intravitreal injections of 0.05 mL/2 mg Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron) every 2 months after three initial monthly doses, and 17 eyes received aflibercept injections on an as-needed basis after three initial monthly doses.
The analysis included patients who were followed for 1 year or longer.
Investigators compared logMAR best corrected visual acuity between the groups before treatment and at 4 months, 6 months and 12 months after initial treatment. Indocyanine green angiography was used to assess the regression of polyps at 12 months.
The mean number of injections was seven in the 2-month group and five in the as-needed group. The between-group difference was statistically significant (P < .01).
At 12 months, BCVA improved significantly compared with baseline in the 2-month injection group (P < .01) and in the as-needed group (P = .03). There was a trend toward better improvement in BCVA in the every 2-month group compared with the as-needed group, but the difference was not significant.
Polyps regressed in 12 eyes (48%) in the 2-month injection group and in nine eyes (52.9%) in the as-needed group; the between-group difference was not statistically significant.
“Considering that both PRN and fixed every other month dosing of aflibercept improve vision significantly at 1 year, both treatment regimens are useful to improve vision in PCV, although there was a trend toward better vision improvement with fixed treatment every 2 months,” the study authors said. – by Matt Hasson
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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