title: Incidence of new choroidal neovascularization in fellow eyes of patients treated in the MARINA and ANCHOR trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore whether monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections are associated with a lower rate of new choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of new CNV in fellow eyes was calculated at 12 and 24 months from 2 clinical trials (the Minimally Classic/Occult Trial of the Anti-VEGF Antibody Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration [MARINA] study and the Anti-VEGF Antibody for the Treatment of Predominantly Classic Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration [ANCHOR] study), based on fluorescein angiographic reading center criteria and investigator evaluation. Patients treated with monthly ranibizumab (0.3 and 0.5 mg) were compared with those receiving a sham injection (MARINA) or photodynamic therapy (ANCHOR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In MARINA, new CNV developed in fellow eyes in 20.3% of the 0.3-mg ranibizumab group by 12 months and in 30.4% by 24 months. The conversion rate in the 0.5-mg ranibizumab group was 21.1% and 38.0% by 12 and 24 months, respectively. In the sham group, 26.4% converted by 12 months and 36.3% converted by 24 months. In ANCHOR, fellow eyes in 15.9% of the 0.3-mg ranibizumab group converted by 12 months and fellow eyes in 23.8% converted by 24 months. The conversion rate in the 0.5-mg ranibizumab group was 24.3% and 35.1% by 12 and 24 months, respectively. In the photodynamic therapy group, 25.4% converted by 12 months and 38.8% converted by 24 months. Differences in conversion rates at 12 and 24 months between the 0.3-mg or 0.5-mg ranibizumab groups and respective controls (sham or photodynamic therapy) were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study do not support the hypothesis that monthly ranibizumab injections reduce the rate of CNV development in untreated fellow eyes.
authors.affiliation: Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York 10022, USA.
authors.forename: Irene A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Barbazetto
authors.forename: Namrata
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saroj
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Allen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: K Bailey
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Freund
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000069579:Ranibizumab