title: Retinal pigment epithelial atrophy in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the occurrence of retinal pigment epithelial atrophy in patients with age-related macular degeneration undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a retrospective review. Eligible were patients with age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascular membranes treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor between October 2007 and February 2011; they were followed for >3 months, with fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography at baseline and with autofluorescence and near-infrared autofluorescence images at baseline and follow-up. Demographics, visual acuity, the type of choroidal neovascular membranes, the number of treatments performed, and the length of follow-up were recorded. Autofluorescence and near-infrared autofluorescence images were evaluated for the presence or absence of areas of reduced signal. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to investigate the factors that may be associated with "progression of atrophy" at follow-up, which was the primary outcome of this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three patients (72 eyes) were followed for a median of 16 months (range, 3-36 months). Atrophy at baseline was observed in 47% (34/72) of eyes; progression of atrophy occurred in 62% (45/72) of eyes at the last visit. The number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections received was statistically significantly associated with the progression of atrophy at follow-up (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.73; P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atrophy was frequently observed in patients with age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascular membranes undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Grampian University Hospital-NHS Trust, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. noemilois@aol.com
authors: Noemi
authors: N
authors: Lois
authors: Vikki
authors: V
authors: McBain
authors: Ehab
authors: E
authors: Abdelkader
authors: Neil W
authors: NW
authors: Scott
authors: Reena
authors: R
authors: Kumari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001284:Atrophy; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab