Same-day administration of verteporfin and ranibizumab 0.5 mg in patients with choroidal neovascularisation due to age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate safety of same-day administration of verteporfin and ranibizumab.


METHODS
Prospective, open-label, multicentre study; patients with predominantly classic (n = 13) or occult (n = 19) choroidal neovascularisation secondary to age-related macular degeneration received standard-fluence verteporfin at baseline and months 3, 6 and 9, based on fluorescein angiography (FA). Ranibizumab 0.5 mg was administered at baseline and months 1, 2 and 3.


METHODS
The incidence of severe vision loss (best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) loss > or = 30 letters; primary safety assessment).


RESULTS
No severe vision loss due to ocular inflammation or uveitis occurred. One patient had moderate vision loss (BCVA loss > or = 15 letters). Three patients had mild/moderate uveitis. Two serious ocular adverse events occurred (retinal pigment epithelial tear and moderate BCVA decrease). No systemic adverse events occurred. At 9 months, all lesions were inactive with no recurrent leakage on FA and optical coherence tomography; macular oedema and subretinal fluid resolved. The mean BCVA measured at 2 m improved by 6.9 letters at 4 months and 2.4 letters at 9 months. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Same-day verteporfin and ranibizumab was safe and not associated with severe vision loss or severe ocular inflammation. Lesions stabilized, with minimal treatment required after month 3.
Schmidt-Erfurth
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Department of Ophthalmology, Universitätsklinik fur Augenheilkunde und Optometrie, University of Vienna, AKH Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. ursula.schmidt-erfurth@meduniwien.ac.at
Wolf
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002829:Choroid / Q000187:drug effects; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000069579:Ranibizumab