title: [Antivasoproliferative agents in ophthalmology].
abstract: The most important recent advance in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the development of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapeutic agents that preserve and improve visual acuity by arresting choroidal neovascular growth and reducing vascular permeability. Two anti-VEGF agents, ranibizumab and pegaptanib sodium, are currently approved by Swissmedic for the treatment of neovascular AMD. A third anti-VEGF agent, bevacizumab, is currently used as an off label treatment option for exsudative AMD. Other anti-VEGF agent strategies that have shown efficacy include among others, small interfering RNA agents to silence the VEGF gene and receptor and the fusion protein VEGF trap. Anti-VEGF therapies have been used successfully in the clinic, encouraging their use in the treatment of other neovascular and exudative eye diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unité de rétine médicale, Hôpital ophtalmique universitaire Jules-Gonin, 1004 Lausanne. Aude.ambresin@fa2.ch
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambresin
authors.forename: Léonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zografos
authors.forename: Irmela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mantel
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A