Pegaptanib for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
(1) Neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results from the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina (choroidal neovascularization). Sudden and permanent vision loss occurs as these vessels grow, leak, bleed, and scar. (2) A human protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is implicated in the development of wet AMD. Pegaptanib attaches to VEGF and blocks its action. (3) In two concurrent, high quality studies using identical research methods, pegaptanib demonstrated a therapeutic advantage over placebo for the prevention of vision loss due to neovascular AMD. (4) Pegaptanib is injected into the eye every six weeks. This carries the risk of endophthalmitis (intraocular infection), lens damage (if accidentally penetrated), and retinal detachment. Systemic side-effects have not been associated with pegaptanib.
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D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017277:Drug Approval; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000191:economics; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects*
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A