Triple therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (verteporfin photodynamic therapy, intravitreal dexamethasone, and intravitreal bevacizumab).
OBJECTIVE
Age-related macular degeneration is a multifactorial disease involving inflammation, neovascularization, and vascular leakage. As a result, a rationale exists for investigating combination treatments that target the different pathological processes involved in this disease. We propose triple therapy consisting of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT), intravitreal bevacizumab, and intravitreal dexamethasone.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Thirty-two eyes of 30 patients were included. None of the patients demonstrated concurrent eye pathology, and none of the patients had received previous treatment for their choroidal neovascularization.


METHODS
One cycle of triple therapy consisted of reduced-fluence PDT (300 mW/cm(2) for 83 seconds to deliver 25 J/cm(2)) followed immediately by an 800 microg (0.08 mL) intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) injection. At 1 and 7 weeks after PDT and IVD, patients received a 1.25 mg (0.05 mL) bevacizumab injection. At 13 weeks after PDT and IVD, each patient had a repeat optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography to assess choroidal neovascularization activity. Patients were followed for 12 months.


RESULTS
The mean number of treatment cycles was 1.4. The mean number of bevacizumab injections was 2.8. Visual acuity improved from 0.74 (SD 0.33) logMAR (20/100) to 0.53 (SD 0.32) logMAR (20/70) (p < 0.005). Foveal thickness decreased from 328 (SD 116) microm to 216 (SD 85) microm (p < 0.001). Ninety-four percent of patients lost fewer than 3 lines, 31% gained more than 3 lines, and 6% lost more than 3 lines.


CONCLUSIONS
By combining agents with complementary mechanisms of action, triple therapy could maintain visual acuity and macular anatomy while allowing a reduction in the number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections required.
Ehmann
David
D
Pasqua Hospital Eye Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, Sask., Canada.
García
Raúl
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003907:Dexamethasone