First clinical experience with anecortave acetate (Retaane).
BACKGROUND
Anecortave acetate is an angiostatic cortisene which is injected as a posterior juxtascleral depot and has been shown to be effective in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The compound is not yet approved in Switzerland but can be used as "compassionate use" in individual cases.


METHODS
An uncontrolled case series with standardised documentation of ETDRS visual acuity, near acuity, need for magnification and fluorescein angiography was performed.


RESULTS
22 eyes of 19 patients (8 male, 11 female, average age 78.8 years) were treated with a posterior juxtascleral depot injection (PJD) of 15 mg anecortave acetate. The mean change in visual acuity after 3 months in eyes treated with anecortave acetate was -2.6 ETDRS letters corresponding to 0.52 Snellen lines. 3/20 eyes gained more than 1 line. 11/20 eyes showed stable visual acuity (+/- 1 Snellen line, +/- 5 ETDRS letters). 5/20 eyes developed moderate vision loss (one to two Snellen lines, 6-10 ETDRS letters). 1/20 lost 18 ETDRS letters (> 3 Snellen lines). There were no moderate or severe adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
A PJD of 15 mg anecortave acetate is safe and well tolerated. In eyes with occult CNV without recent progression or with residual neovascular activity after photodynamic therapy anecortave acetate may be an alternative therapeutic option before considering intravitreal anti-VEGF agents due to the much less invasive character and lower risk profile.
Hayek
S
S
Augenklinik, UniversitätsSpital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Scherrer
M
M
Barthelmes
D
D
Fleischhauer
J C
JC
Kurz-Levin
M M
MM
Menghini
M
M
Helbig
H
H
Sutter
F K
FK
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D011244:Pregnadienediols; C418047:anecortave acetate