Continued anti-VEGF treatment does not prevent recurrences in eyes with stable neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a treat-and-extend regimen: a retrospective case series.
Options
BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
33941877
Description
BACKGROUND
The continuation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment after achieving stability in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration has generally been advocated. In our own patients, we thought to assess whether continued anti-VEGF treatment is capable of preventing recurrences.
METHODS
In this retrospective observational case series, patients with stable disease either opted to continue treatment every 12-14 weeks (Group 1) or stopped treatment with subsequent follow-up visits every 8-12 weeks (Group 2).
RESULTS
Of the 103 eyes of 103 patients achieving stability, 49 eyes continued treatment (Group 1), whereas treatment was stopped in 54 eyes undergoing regular follow-up (Group 2). Recurrent disease was observed in 21 (42.9%) and 33 (61.1%) cases in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (p = 0.08). Time between achieving stable disease and recurrence was comparable between Group 1 and Group 2 (11.1 ± 8.2 months vs. 9.2 ± 6.7 months; p = 0.43). The number of visits between achieving stability and disease recurrence was similar, but not the number of injections (3.5 ± 2.0 vs. 0.2 ± 0.4; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Continuing anti-VEGF therapy after achieving functional and morphological stability every 12-14 weeks does not prevent recurrences. Patients deserve to be informed of a potential lifetime risk of recurrences, even under continued therapy.
The continuation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment after achieving stability in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration has generally been advocated. In our own patients, we thought to assess whether continued anti-VEGF treatment is capable of preventing recurrences.
METHODS
In this retrospective observational case series, patients with stable disease either opted to continue treatment every 12-14 weeks (Group 1) or stopped treatment with subsequent follow-up visits every 8-12 weeks (Group 2).
RESULTS
Of the 103 eyes of 103 patients achieving stability, 49 eyes continued treatment (Group 1), whereas treatment was stopped in 54 eyes undergoing regular follow-up (Group 2). Recurrent disease was observed in 21 (42.9%) and 33 (61.1%) cases in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (p = 0.08). Time between achieving stable disease and recurrence was comparable between Group 1 and Group 2 (11.1 ± 8.2 months vs. 9.2 ± 6.7 months; p = 0.43). The number of visits between achieving stability and disease recurrence was similar, but not the number of injections (3.5 ± 2.0 vs. 0.2 ± 0.4; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Continuing anti-VEGF therapy after achieving functional and morphological stability every 12-14 weeks does not prevent recurrences. Patients deserve to be informed of a potential lifetime risk of recurrences, even under continued therapy.
Date of Publication
2022-04
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Traine, Peter G | |
Garweg, Richard A | |
Wons, Juliana | |
Gerhardt, Christin | |
Pfister, Isabel B |
Additional Credits
Series
Eye
Publisher
Springer Nature
ISSN
1476-5454
Access(Rights)
open.access