The effects of ranibizumab (Lucentis) on retinal function in isolated perfused vertebrate retina.
BACKGROUND
Intraocular ranibizumab (Lucentis, Novartis, Basel Switzerland) is the primary choice in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a survival factor for neuronal cells. Therefore, blockage of all VEGF isoforms by ranibizumab could induce retinal dysfunction.


METHODS
Using isolated bovine retinas, the electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded as a transretinal potential using Ag/AgCl electrodes, while the retinas were perfused with an oxygen preincubated nutrient solution. For 45 min, ranibizumab was applied at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml and alternatively the solvent carrier without the active agent. The ERG was monitored before, during and after exposure.


RESULTS
The concentration of 0.2 mg/ml ranibizumab induced a non-significant b-wave reduction of 22.32% after exposure (p = 0.13). For the a-wave amplitude only a reduction of 4% was detected (p = 0.18). The solvent carrier induced no significant reduction of the a- and b-wave amplitudes (p = 0.30 and p = 0.979, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
In the ex vivo model, the isolated perfused vertebrate retina, ranibizumab has been proven to be a safe compound at the concentrations applied. The stability of the ERG-amplitudes rules out a considerable retinal dysfunction after an injection of up to 1 mg ranibizumab.
Lüke
M
M
University Eye Hospital, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. matthias.lueke@uk-sh.de
Januschowski
K
K
Lüke
J
J
Peters
S
S
Wirtz
N
N
Yörük
E
E
Lüke
C
C
Bartz-Schmidt
K U
KU
Grisanti
S
S
Szurman
P
P
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002417:Cattle; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000069579:Ranibizumab