title: Visual outcome of ranibizumab therapy for neovascular age related macular degeneration in the black population: a report of five cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD) is relatively uncommon in the black population. We report the 12-month outcome of ranibizumab therapy in five black patients with choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) secondary to AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of a prospective audit database maintained for all patients on ranibizumab therapy in a retinal specialist unit that caters to a multi-ethnic cohort in London, United Kingdom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months, all the 5 patients maintained stable vision (loss of less than 15 ETDRS letters). However, none of them gained more than 15 ETDRS letters. All eyes showed early subretinal fibrosis while 2 patients showed extended areas of retinal pigment atrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our case studies indicate that ranibizumab stabilizes the vision in black patients with CNV secondary to AMD but they tend to develop early subretinal fibrosis and retinal pigment atrophy.
authors.affiliation: Laser and Retinal Research Unit, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK.
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vemala
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Sobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivaprasad
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2006 Oct 5;355(14):1419-31
references.pmid: 17021318
references.citation: Ophthalmology. 2009 Oct;116(10 Suppl):S24-6
references.pmid: 19800536
references.citation: J Natl Med Assoc. 2005 Jul;97(7):1004-9
references.pmid: 16080671
references.citation: Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2010 Jan;9(1):149-65
references.pmid: 20001757
references.citation: Ophthalmology. 2006 Mar;113(3):373-80
references.pmid: 16513455
references.citation: Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Oct;121(10):1392-6
references.pmid: 14557174
references.citation: Ophthalmology. 2009 Jan;116(1):57-65.e5
references.pmid: 19118696
references.citation: Clin Ophthalmol. 2008 Mar;2(1):1-14
references.pmid: 19668384
references.citation: Prog Retin Eye Res. 1999 May;18(3):371-89
references.pmid: 10192518
references.citation: Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2009 Feb;5(1):17-9
references.pmid: 19436608