title: Effects of ranibizumab in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization attributable to age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate not only prevention of vision loss but also improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after treatment with ranibizumab on a variable-dosing regimen over 24 months in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutional.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-eight eyes of 138 patients treated intravitreally with 0.5 mg ranibizumab (Lucentis; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland). Age above 50 years, BCVA 0.2 to 1.2 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR), primary or recurrent subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  After single initial treatment, monthly follow-up examination. Retreatment in case of one of the following: sign of subretinal fluid or intraretinal edema, increase in central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), active CNV on fluorescein angiography, increase of metamorphopsia, and loss of BCVA > 5 letters on Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compared with baseline: proportion of eyes gaining > or = 15 letters, proportion of eyes losing or gaining < 15 letters, change in CRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 24 months, 30% of eyes gained > or = 15 letters. After 24 months, 55% of eyes lost or gained < 15 letters. Mean CRT of 386 +/- 145 microm at baseline was significantly reduced to 211 +/- 39 microm after 24 months (P = .036). Mean injection number per patient was 5.6 +/- 2.9 and 4.3 +/- 3.8 from baseline to month 12 and month 12 to 24, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal ranibizumab on a variable-dosing regimen was effective in significantly increasing mean BVCA and reducing CRT. This beneficial outcome was achieved with a low-rate of mild ocular adverse effects among our patients.
authors.affiliation: Bern Photographic Reading Center, Universitätsklinik für Augenheilkunde, Inselspital, University Bern, Bern, Switzerland. simon.rothenbuehler@insel.ch
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rothenbuehler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waeber
authors.forename: Christian K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Ute E K
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Wolf-Schnurrbusch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab