Treat-and-extend bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: the importance of baseline characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the factors affecting visual and anatomical outcomes and the number of intravitreal bevacizumab injections required in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a treat-and-extend regimen.


METHODS
Retrospective consecutive case series. The charts of subjects treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a treat-and-extend regimen over a 12-month period were reviewed. The key variables explored were patient age, phakic status, posterior vitreous detachment status, baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), baseline central macular thickness (CMT), and type of chorodial neovascularization. The primary outcome measures were improvement in BCVA of 3 logMAR lines or more, maintenance of BCVA within 3 logMAR lines of baseline, number of intravitreal injections delivered over a 12-month period, and final CMT on optical coherence tomography.


RESULTS
A total of 230 eyes met the criteria. Mean presenting BCVA was Snellen 20/55 (0.44 logMAR) and mean final BCVA was Snellen 20/44 (0.35 logMAR) (P < 0.001). A total of 23.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.5-29.4%) of the subjects demonstrated an improvement in BCVA of 3 or more logMAR lines, whereas 96.5% (95% CI, 93.3-98.2%) of the subjects lost fewer than 3 logMAR lines. Mean CMT on optical coherence tomography changed from a baseline average of 373.1 μm (95%CI, 360.3-386.1 μm) to a final average of 305.5 μm (95% CI, 290.0-316.0 μm). The average number of injections during the 12-month period was 9.2 (95% CI, 9.0-9.4). Posterior vitreous detachment was associated with fewer injections on univariate and multivariate analysis (8.7 injections in the posterior vitreous detachment group versus 9.8 in the non-posterior vitreous detachment group, P < 0.001). Patients with poorer presenting BCVA and greater baseline CMTs were more likely to demonstrate a 3 or more logMAR line improvement in BCVA. Thinner final CMTs were independently associated with thinner presenting CMTs and fewer injections.


CONCLUSIONS
Favorable visual and anatomical outcomes may be achieved with intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a treat-and-extend regimen. Our study suggests that posterior vitreous detachment may play a role in the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab during the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
*Southwest Retina Specialists, Amarillo, Texas; †Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Amarillo, Texas; ‡Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney, Australia; and §Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Ryan B
RB
Rush
Matthew P
MP
Simunovic
Lorelei
L
Vandiver
Antonio V
AV
Aragon
Jason E
JE
Ysasaga
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004396:Coloring Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D007208:Indocyanine Green