title: Factors predictive of outcomes 1 year after 3 monthly ranibizumab injections and as-needed reinjections for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Japanese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine baseline factors predictive of outcomes 1 year after 3 monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections followed by as-needed injections for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nonrandomized prospective 1-year trial collected data from 144 Japanese patients (144 eyes) with symptomatic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who received one 0.5-mg intravitreal ranibizumab injection monthly for 3 months followed by as-needed retreatments. Statistical analysis evaluated baseline independent factors predictive of better visual acuity and the need for fewer injections 1 year after the first injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the initial 3 monthly injections, a mean ± standard deviation of 1.2 ± 1.1 as-needed injections was administered. The mean visual acuity improved significantly (P < 0.01) from 20/80 to 20/50. Better visual acuity and no history of photodynamic therapy or clusters of grape-like polypoidal lesions were significant independent baseline factors predictive of better visual acuity 1 year after the first injection. No factors were significantly associated with a need for fewer ranibizumab reinjections during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The baseline clinical characteristics predicted favorable visual acuity outcomes. These findings might be useful to explaining the prognosis of ranibizumab treatment to the patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
authors.affiliation: Ohtsuka Eye Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Taiichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hikichi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004396:Coloring Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D000069579:Ranibizumab