title: Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Clinical Findings following Treatment with Antiangiogenic Drugs.
abstract: Purpose. To survey the management of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) in Spain. Methods. An observational retrospective multicenter study was conducted. The variables analyzed were sociodemographic characteristics, foveal and macular thickness, visual acuity (VA), type of treatment, number of injections, and the initial administration of a loading dose of an antiangiogenic drug. Results. 208 patients were followed up during 23.4 months in average. During the first and second years, patients received a mean of 4.5 ± 1.8 and 1.6 ± 2.1 injections of antiangiogenic drugs, and 5.4 ± 2.8 and 3.6 ± 2.2 follow-up visits were performed, respectively. The highest improvement in VA was observed at 3 months of follow-up, followed by a decrease in the response that stabilized above baseline values until the end of the study. Patients who received an initial loading dose presented greater VA gains than those without. Conclusions. Our results suggest the need for a more standardized approach in the management and diagnosis of nvAMD receiving VEGF inhibitors. To achieve the visual outcomes reported in pivotal trials, an early diagnosis, proactive approach (more treating than follow-up visits), and a close monitoring might be the key to successfully manage nvAMD.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clinic de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Sabino Arana 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1431-4874
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casaroli-Marano
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Bulevar Sur S/N, 46026 Valencia, Spain ; RETICS Oftared, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallego-Pinazo
authors.affiliation: RETICS Oftared, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain ; Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Calle Isabel la Católica 1-3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Clemencia Torrón
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Fernández-Blanco
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9,100, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Hospital Dos de Maig de Barcelona, Carrer Dos de Maig 301, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pina Marín
authors.affiliation: Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Avenida Carlos Haya S/N, 29010 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández-Baca Vaca
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Valme, Avenida de Bellavista S/N, 41014 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piñero-Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario de San Carlos, Calle Profesor Martín Lagos S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donate López
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebrón, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Arumí
authors.affiliation: Bayer HealthCare, Avenida Baix Llobregat 3-5, Sant Joan Despí, 08970 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farrés Martí