Optical coherence tomography findings during pegaptanib therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) during pegaptanib therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
For this prospective, nonrandomized, observational case series, 41 eyes from 41 patients with neovascular AMD received intravitreous pegaptanib (1 mg) injections repeated every 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure was central foveal thickness measured by OCT. Secondary outcomes were fluorescein angiographic leakage and visual acuity.


RESULTS
Mean thickness of the central area on OCT decreased from 340 +/- 24 microm to 299 +/- 14 microm after 12 weeks of pegaptanib injections. This represents a reduction in thickening of 32%. Fluorescein angiograms with definite leakage decreased from 100% to 81%, and mean visual acuity decreased from 20/116 to 20/120.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injections of pegaptanib at 6-week intervals result in a moderate reduction of central foveal thickness in eyes with subfoveal neovascular AMD. This presents a modest effect relative to that reported with other anti-angiogenic agents.
Emerson
Geoffrey G
GG
Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Flaxel
Christina J
CJ
Lauer
Andreas K
AK
Stout
J Timothy
JT
Emerson
M Vaughn
MV
Nolte
Susan
S
Wilson
David J
DJ
Klein
Michael L
ML
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C495058:pegaptanib