title: Aflibercept in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in previously treated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the visual outcomes and change in central macular thickness (CMT) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who were previously treated with ranibizumab (Lucentis) and/or bevacizumab (Avastin) and were subsequently switched to aflibercept (VEGF Trap-Eye; Eylea).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of patients who received intravitreal aflibercept from December 2011 to December 2012 and had previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for AMD. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CMT as measured by optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population included 30 patients aged 80.4±1.45 (mean±SEM) who received 6.27±0.37 (range 4-11) aflibercept injections. Eighteen patients had previously received only bevacizumab (12.4±2.18 injections), 2 had received only ranibizumab (19±6 injections), and 10 had received both ranibizumab and bevacizumab (mean 19.3 injections). BCVA logMAR at the initial visit (aflibercept initiation) was 0.506±0.054 (mean VA 20/64), and then, follow ups at 1-month 0.504±0.055 (20/64) P=0.903, 3-months 0.458±0.061 (20/57) P=0.112, 6-months 0.413±0.071 (20/52) P=0.036, and 12-months 0.521±0.076 (20/66) P=0.836. CMT at the initial visit was 261±10.9, and then, at 1-month 238±12.4 P=0.021, 3-months 245±10.6 P=0.102, 6-months 245±10.4 P=0.099, and 12-months 237±10.2 P=0.012. Results were similar in a subset of patients (n=15) with central macular edema or submacular fluid at aflibercept initiation. While on aflibercept, 2 patients developed intraocular pressure increases that required treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate a significant decrease in CMT but no statistically significant improvement in BCVA through the 12-month follow up in patients previously treated who were switched to aflibercept for AMD. Patients may develop ocular hypertension after multiple aflibercept injections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, Yale Eye Center , New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Laura B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Nazlee
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zebardast
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ron A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adelman
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections / Q000379:methods; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533178:aflibercept; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D000069579:Ranibizumab